Alice Bibby, a member of the Bibby family, cut the ceremonial rope and the vessel, which will carry the name Staffordshire, entered the water for the first time.
“The launch of Staffordshire is a proud moment for Bibby Marine and for everyone who has helped bring this vessel to life” said Jonathan Lewis, Group CEO at Bibby Line Group. “This is not just another vessel entering the water; it is a game-changing step towards cleaner, smarter and more efficient offshore operations. It shows what can be achieved when vision is matched by delivery – bringing together new technology, maritime expertise and a team committed to making change happen. I am hugely grateful to colleagues across Bibby Marine, Armon and all our project partners. They should feel real pride in what they have built, and in the impact Staffordshire can have for our customers, our industry and the future of offshore wind.”
Staffordshire is a name with deep roots in the Bibby fleet and this will be the fifth vessel to carry it. The vessel follows ships that sailed in 1894, 1929, 1950 and 1977, each one marking a new chapter in the company’s history.
“Seeing the vessel in the water is a landmark moment for everyone involved in the project” added Nigel Quinn, CEO at Bibby Marine. “Bibby has moved with every energy transition since 1807, from wind to steam, coal to oil, and now to battery power, putting the most advanced propulsion available to work, not just the most familiar. It’s exactly what the offshore wind sector needs from its support fleet next.”
The new eCSOV has been designed to revolutionise wind farm operations – supporting offshore operations with modern capabilities, efficiency and comfort for those working on board. The launch in Vigo forms part of the vessel’s journey towards entering service, representing another important chapter in Bibby Marine’s continuing maritime story.
The eCSOV is designed around battery-first propulsion, with its energy storage system acting as the primary source of power rather than a supplementary one. This represents a distinction from the hybrid-assist designs more common across the sector. Bibby Marine has partnered with Kongsberg and Corvus Energy on the vessel’s propulsion and battery systems and is working with Stillstrom to develop compatibility for offshore charging.
Bibby Marine estimates this approach can cut vessel operating costs by more than 40 percent in self-charging mode, rising to around 70 percent once the eCSOV is able to operate on offshore charging alone. The project has previously been supported by £20 million in funding from Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI). The eCSOV forms part of a wider industry push to decarbonise offshore wind support vessels, backed by the growing global build-out of offshore wind capacity.
Over the coming months, the vessel will be fitted out at Armon Shipyard, including installation of its battery systems, ahead of delivery and a formal naming ceremony next year. Further updates will follow as each stage is completed.
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