SMST gangway and crane for Elevation Series CSOVs of Windcat

SMST has been awarded a contract by Damen Shipyards for the delivery of two sets of mission equipment for the two newbuild Elevation Series CSOVs for Windcat Offshore. By delivering a gangway (Telescopic Access Bridge L-Series) combined with Access & Cargo Tower and world’s largest 3D Motion Compensated Crane, SMST is a major contributor to the enlarged flexibility and capability of the hydrogen-powered Commissioning Service Operation Vessels, which already have been praised for their revolutionary design.  

The Elevation Series CSOVs have been designed by Damen Shipyards in cooperation with Windcat and CMB.TECH. “SMST has been closely involved in the design of the vessels, which has enabled us to optimally integrate our equipment. This has resulted in the most efficient and safest logistic solution for the CSOVs, and it has also created an optimal construction process for the equipment on board”, says Menno de Jong, Sales Manager at SMST.

The SMST mission equipment that will be in operation on board the CSOVs from 2025 contains the first ever 10t 3D motion compensated crane, being the largest 3D crane worldwide. Mr De Jong elaborates: “This version from our wide range of 3D cranes offers new possibilities for offshore handling. The construction of offshore wind farms can be executed even more efficiently.”

To significantly reduce the CO2 footprint of the Elevation Series, the vessels are powered by hydrogen. SMST contributes to the ‘green’ CSOVs with their most energy-efficient mission equipment to date. “We are committed to building sustainable vessels and we believe with their offshore systems on board, SMST can support us in achieving this goal”, states Joost van der Weiden, Sales Manager Benelux at Damen Shipyards, “Together with SMST, Windcat and CMB.TECH we have developed an industry-leading design setting an example for the energy transition in the offshore wind sector.”

Stephen Bolton, Managing Director at Windcat Offshore adds: “We are pleased to work in a solid cooperation with SMST. Their latest motion compensated gangway combined with tower and elevator has the greatest range available on the market, reaching up to 30m above sea level. Important as ever, their equipment ensures safe, efficient and stepless routing of our personnel on board.”