PALFINGER secures major package deal for Edda Wind’s new offshore vessels

PALFINGER was selected to equip four new service vessels for Edda Wind, Østensjø Groups’ offshore wind segment, with lifting solutions as well as lifesaving appliances. PALFINGER’s Ibérica office won the extensive package deal after thorough negotiations including ten foldable knuckle boom cranes, four lifeboats and eight davits. 

Located on Spain’s northern coast, two renowned shipyards have been appointed to build Edda Wind’s new offshore vessels. With the aim of becoming the world’s most environmentally friendly and efficient vessels of their kind, two commissioning service operation vessels (CSOV) are being constructed at Gondán Shipbuilders. Each of them will be fitted with one of PALFINGER’s PK15500M cranes and one PK33002M crane, the latest model of PALFINGER’s foldable knuckle boom cranes, ideally suited for onboard and offboard operations. 

Two slightly smaller service operation vessels (SOV), awarded to Balenciaga Shipyard, will be equipped with two PK15500M cranes and one PK33002M crane each.

Additional order for PALFINGER lifesaving appliances
Shortly after signing the crane contract, PALFINGER secured the deal to also deliver lifesaving appliances to all four new Edda Wind vessels. While each SOV will be fitted with two liferaft davits, each CSOV will be provided with two totally enclosed lifeboats with accompanying davits in addition to two liferaft davits. 

“We are delighted that we were awarded with this exciting project by Østensjø, Gondán and Balenciaga, who we have been working with for many years. Aside from the high-quality standard we offer, it was indeed these strong partnerships built on trust and experience that led to winning these contracts”, says Rubén Alonso Corcuera, Business Development Manager for PALFINGER’s marine solutions, based in the PALFINGER Ibérica office.

“Having won these contracts by Balenciaga and Gondán makes us very proud – our special thanks go to PALFINGER Ibérica for securing this important package. This shows that investing in process improvements and our global sales and service network over the last years have indeed been rewarding. We successfully positioned PALFINGER as a complete solutions supplier of deck equipment and lifesaving appliances”, underlines Gunther Fleck, Vice President Sales and Service for PALFINGER’s marine business.

First charter agreements signed
The delivery of all PALFINGER equipment is scheduled for 2021 and 2022, right before the vessels are put to sea. In fact, it was just recently that Edda Wind has signed long time charter agreements for two of the four vessels. One agreement involves MHI Vestas, allowing one of the SOVs to operate for the next 15 years as of the second quarter of 2022. The second ship, a CSOV, has been chartered by Ocean Breeze Energy for a period of eleven years, starting with the first quarter of 2021.