Ignacio Galán, Executive Chairman of Iberdrola, visited the facilities of Astilleros Ría de Vigo —part of the Armón Shipyards group— on Wednesday to inspect construction milestones on the new electric vessel commissioned by British operator Bibby Marine. The unit is an eCSOV (Electric Commissioning Service Operation Vessel) designed for offshore wind farm commissioning and maintenance, featuring a record-setting specification: over 24 MWh of onboard battery storage capacity, the largest battery system ever fitted on a commercial vessel in its class.
During the site inspection, Galán was accompanied by executives from the Galician shipyard, representatives from Bibby Marine (which already partners with the energy group on offshore assets), and Manuel Moreu, Chairman of Seaplace, the naval engineering consultancy responsible for the vessel’s design.
Deploying heavy components and technical crews offshore is energy-intensive and operationally demanding, prompting the utility to actively promote the decarbonisation of its maritime logistics chain. The energy multinational currently operates 3,200 MW of offshore wind capacity across the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and France, representing an accumulated investment of €13 billion. In addition, the group is constructing a further 2,700 MW across East Anglia Two and Three (UK waters) and Windanker (German Baltic Sea), adding nearly €10 billion in capital expenditure, alongside 900 MW permitted for East Anglia ONE North and development opportunities in Australia.
Galán reviewed the engine layouts, battery modules, and fabrication docks at the Vigo shipyard. He emphasized that electrifying the maritime supply chain is essential to reduce offshore wind operating costs and bolster European energy independence. The visit also highlighted the technical expertise of the Galician shipbuilding industry in delivering specialized, high-complexity vessels for the energy transition.
eCSOV technical specifications
Engineered by Seaplace for Bibby Marine and currently on the slipway in Vigo, the vessel will service offshore wind facilities while substantially cutting emissions and fuel consumption. The ship is powered by electric propulsion supported by dual-fuel methanol auxiliary engines, with the capacity to carry several thousand tonnes of payload under demanding offshore conditions aligned with standards from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
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