Ship naming competition launched in East Anglia for new kid on the dock

The name of North Star’s SOV bound for the East Anglia THREE windfarm will be coined by the public

It’s all hands-on deck as North Star, ScottishPower Renewables and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy launch a competition for local people in East Anglia to complete the name for a new ship bound for the East Anglia THREE windfarm, located off the Suffolk coast.

The North Star high specification hybrid-powered service operation vessel (SOV) will accommodate up to 60 of Siemens Gamesa’s wind technicians as they work offshore maintaining all 95 wind turbines at the East Anglia Hub development.

This is one of five SOVs North Star currently has under construction for the offshore wind sector, having already delivered its first three: the Grampian Tyne, Grampian Derwent and Grampian Tees. The new East Anglia THREE vessel will also carry the ‘Grampian’ first name as homage to the UK’s leading SOV operator’s Aberdeen heritage, where it was established 137 years ago.

The three businesses are now turning to local people and communities to find a winning suggestion for the second part of the ship’s name which acknowledges East Anglia’s rich maritime heritage or its local community.

North Star COO Robert Catchpole, based in Lowestoft, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for local schools and individuals to get involved in naming the latest addition to our fleet, which will play a crucial role in maintaining and servicing East Anglia THREE for the next decade. This high-performance SOV has been designed to provide ultimate comfort for our client’s offshore team and serve as a logistics base to support their in-field operations.

“The winner will be invited on board one of our existing SOVs to see firsthand the superior craftsmanship and innovative technologies embedded in our designs. They will also be presented with a special scale model of the new ship bearing its new name. We look forward to seeing the creative suggestions that celebrate our local maritime heritage and community.”

North Star has a workforce of 1,400 seafarers and onshore personnel across its facilities in Lowestoft, Newcastle and Aberdeen. To support the new East Anglia THREE ship, the firm has plans to recruit around 40 crew, as well as increasing its headcount in Lowestoft and engage further with the local supply chain. 

The new SOV is due to be delivered to Siemens Gamesa to commence operations for ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia THREE development in late 2026. Once operational, it will be the second largest offshore windfarm in the world, supplying enough green electricity to power the equivalent of more than 1.3 million homes.

ScottishPower Renewables’ Matt Wooltorton, East Anglia THREE Construction Manager, said: “The renewables industry has given a new lease of life to regions like East Anglia, while building on its proud and strong maritime heritage, so it’s great for local people and communities to have the chance to put their mark on this exciting green energy project in this way.

“As someone who lives and works in the region, I’ve no doubt this will generate a lot of interest and excitement – across all ages – and I can’t wait to see the suggestions flow in!”

UK residents can enter the competition via North Star’s website here www.northstarshipping.co.uk/news/vessel-naming-competition, where the full terms and conditions are also available. No purchase is necessary, but internet access is required. The competition is open from Weds 2nd Oct and closes for entries on Saturday, 30th November 2024.

About North Star

North Star is the market leading UK provider of mission critical, offshore infrastructure support services to offshore wind and offshore oil and gas markets. 

The firm has bases in Aberdeen, Lowestoft and Newcastle and Hamburg, and has a workforce of 1,400 seafarers and onshore personnel. It has been supporting the energy sector for the past four decades. Its offshore infrastructure support vessel fleet boasts 42 assets and provides continuous around the clock support services to more than 50 North Sea installations. The company’s first three of four Service Operations Vessels (SOVs), the Grampian Tyne, Grampian Derwent and Grampian Tees have been delivered to support the Dogger Bank Wind Farm partners, all are under charter for a 10-year minimum. The business has also invested in its first two Commissioning SOVs to support the growing European offshore wind market. 

The 137-year-old business, which was originally established to support the fisheries industry, is also the country’s largest employer of offshore cadets. Since 1996, it has trained hundreds of future deck and engineering trainees, investing £1million annually on average to develop the next generation.  

By combining safety, service and quality, the company delivers exceptional levels of support to its clients in one of world’s most challenging and demanding industries. 

About Siemens Energy

Siemens Energy is one of the world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. With its portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers almost the entire energy value chain – from power and heat generation and transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and transformers.

Its wind power subsidiary Siemens Gamesa makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens Energy. Siemens Energy employs around 98,000 people worldwide in more than 90 countries and generated revenue of €31 billion in fiscal year 2023. www.siemens-energy.com

Issued on behalf of North Star by BIG Partnership.