Since its inception over 130 years ago, North Star has built its reputation on trust and reliability in the world of shipbuilding. Today, the Blue Economy demands more than reliability, with sustainability becoming a focal point as the industry begins to decarbonize.
In 2022, North Star made a strategic move into the offshore wind market with its first Service Operations Vessel (SOV) contract. Shortly after, in 2024, the company deployed three SOVs into long-term wind contracts, saw a 15% year-on-year cut in Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and invested £108.1 million in next-generation tonnage.
“These milestones support a larger ambition to operate a fleet of 40 service operations vessels (SOVs) by 2040 and transition entirely to offshore wind by 2045,” explained Peter Mantripp, North Star’s SOV Daughter Craft Operations & Vessel Support Manager. “With this new vision came the opportunity to rethink the role of daughter crafts (DC) in supporting a low-carbon future.”
NEXT-GEN DAUGHTER CRAFTS
North Star has begun developing a new generation of DCs, with efficiency and sustainability being the fundamental tenets in the design process. The design and construction of this new fleet has been shaped by collaborative efforts from partners Alicat Workboats in Great Yarmouth and naval architects Chartwell Marine Ltd.
Weekly build meetings at Alicat’s shipyard ensure every vessel benefits from continuous learning and refinement and that milestones are reached on time and on budget. Progress to date? North Star recently completed its sixth DC in the series, featuring some of the most advanced technologies to date.
“The original design started life as a diesel- electric concept, but through collaboration and forward-thinking, we saw the potential to go fully hybrid,” said Mantripp. “We optimized the onboard battery system to power the entire boat. This shift has delivered measurable reduction in fuel consumption, emissions and underwater noise.”
Additional innovations include reconfigurable interiors, flexible cargo handling systems and enhanced sea state operability.
Feedback to date from crews working aboard these vessels underscores the real-world impact of these innovations. From quieter operations to enhanced ride stability, technicians have reported increased comfort, even getting a good night’s sleep on board —almost unheard of on smaller transfer vessels.
A focus on crew welfare goes hand in hand with the firm’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
DECARBONIZATION NEEDS INNOVATION
“The delivery of our sixth DC is a significant milestone in North Star’s journey, but it’s only the beginning,” asserted Mantripp. “Through ongoing research and development, we will continue exploring new ways to decarbonize our vessels.”
With additional hybrid ships on the horizon, North Star remains committed to driving innovation in offshore wind operations and reducing carbon emissions across the entire supply chain.
Decarbonizing the Blue Economy is an imperative, and its success will steer the future of the shipbuilding industry.
North Star and its evolving fleet of DCs is just one of many players leading this charge, combining invaluable industry expertise with a forward-looking commitment to futureproofing offshore energy operations.
This spotlight appeared in ON&T Magazine’s 2025 September Edition, Decarbonizing the Blue Economy, to read more access the magazine here.
