German transmission system operator 50Hertz has initiated a preliminary market consultation to evaluate service operation vessel (SOV) and walk-to-work (W2W) solutions for its upcoming offshore grid connection platforms in the German Baltic Sea.
This non-binding consultation aims to support future procurement by soliciting market feedback on operational and commercial offshore logistics and accommodation concepts. Besides compact SOV and W2W models, 50Hertz is interested in larger SOV and commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) options, along with campaign, long-term, seasonal, winter, shared-use, and back-charter models.
As a planning assumption, the operator considers a vessel accommodating 30 to 50 personnel, featuring DP2 capability, walk-to-work access to platforms in significant wave heights of up to 2.5 meters, and the capacity to transfer cargo, diesel, oil, fresh water, grey water, and wastewater.
The vessels will support operations and maintenance activities across nine offshore grid connection platforms, totaling approximately 3,000 to 10,000 offshore person-days annually, spread over four campaigns.
The consultation seeks to help 50Hertz evaluate suitable vessel concepts, implementation routes, lead times, commercial models, and propulsion and emissions-reduction technologies before any future procurement. The company stressed that this is a preliminary market consultation, not a call for competition or tender invitation, and no contract will be awarded through this process.
The platforms will be part of 50Hertz’s offshore transmission infrastructure in the German Baltic Sea, linking offshore wind farms to the onshore electricity grid.
Interested companies should request additional information by October 2, 2026, with responses to the consultation due by October 9, 2026.
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