LD Tide Selected to Supply Crew Transfer Vessel for French Offshore Wind Farm

LD Tide, a joint venture between Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and Tidal Transit, has been chosen to provide a Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) for the operation and maintenance services of the 488 MW offshore wind farm being developed by Ocean Winds in France.

The new vessel is set to commence operations in mid-2025 at the Eoliennes en Mer des Îles d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier (EMYN) offshore wind farm. Siemens Gamesa awarded LD Tide the contract to supply a high-performance 24-passenger CTV following an international tender process.

LD Tide will be responsible for operating the CTV to ensure the safe transfer of maintenance technicians to the EMYN offshore wind farm. This contract marks the second collaboration between LD Tide and Siemens Gamesa, with the first CTV, Acti’vent, currently operating at the Fécamp Offshore Wind Farm since October 2023.

Strategic Marine, a specialist aluminum shipbuilder based in Singapore, is currently constructing two CTVs for LD Tide, including the new vessel for the EMYN offshore wind farm. The StratCat 27 model is known for its high-specification design, accommodating 24 passengers while prioritizing safety, performance, and comfort for offshore operations.

Earlier this year, LD Tide placed an order for two CTVs to meet the increasing demand in the French offshore wind sector. The CTV will be crewed by a French team and operated under the French flag.

With 61 wind turbines, each rated at 8 MW, the EMYN offshore wind farm will have a total capacity of 488 MW, generating 1,900 GWh per year, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 800,000 people.

Gaël Cailleaux, Renewables Managing Director at Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, expressed delight in strengthening the collaboration with Siemens Gamesa and expanding LD Tide’s presence in the French maritime industry dedicated to offshore wind.