In a further decisive step towards the upcoming market requirements for installation and service of offshore wind turbines, A2SEA take full ownership in M/V Ocean Ady and M/V Ocean Hanne at the end of February 2005. Until now, Ady and Hanne have been contracted by A2SEA on a long-term charter agreement with ORION – PEP Shipping. Ocean Ady and Ocean Hanne will be renamed as Sea Energy and Sea Power. Both vessels were converted by A2SEA into offshore installation vessels in 2001–2002 and have been operating in the offshore wind industry. At the end of March, Sea Energy will be docked for additional conversion. Sea Energy’s jacking legs will be extended from their current 17m to 28.5m, which will enable operations to be performed at water depths of up to 25m – depending on seabed penetration. For further projects in 2006–2008 it is also planned to upgrade the crane capacity for the larger and heavier turbines.M/V Sea Power is expected to have her main business within the service segment as an external crane vessel for exchange of main components on offshore wind turbines. M/V Sea Power and Sea Energy will have their home port in Esbjerg, Denmark, which has a short connecting distance to offshore wind farms of northern Europe.
