〆The investment will be made through a third-party allotment of shares worth €60 million.
Sumitomo Corporation is set to take a stake in IWS Fleet, a Norwegian company that owns and operates offshore wind support vessels. The parent company, Integrated Wind Solutions, will issue new shares worth €60 million (approximately ¥10 billion) through a third-party allocation, which Sumitomo Corporation will purchase. Through this acquisition, Sumitomo Corporation will secure 25.38% of the outstanding shares of IWS Fleet. Notably, the IWS Fleet boasts the world’s second-largest fleet of Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs).
Sumitomo Corporation plans to complete its investment by June 2024, making IWS Fleet an equity-method affiliate. Additionally, Sumitomo Corporation intends to appoint directors to IWS Fleet’s board.
CSOVs (Commissioning Service Operation Vessels) are a type of offshore support vessel that provides accommodation and transportation for technicians working on offshore wind turbines. These vessels are increasingly in demand, particularly in Europe, during the construction phase of offshore wind projects. It is predicted that around 60 CSOVs will be needed worldwide by 2027, with the number rising to over 100 by 2030.
IWS Fleet currently operates and manages the world’s second-largest fleet of CSOVs, consisting of six vessels, including four on order. By standardizing their fleet with identical ships, IWS Fleet aims to streamline vessel management and offer flexible services to operators. Their gangways’ stability, dynamic positioning systems for maintaining fixed positions at sea, and high-quality living quarters for technicians are highly regarded by customers.
In a landmark agreement, IWS Fleet secured a contract in February 2024 with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy S.A., the world’s leading offshore wind turbine manufacturer, based in Spain. The deal, valued between €51 million and €55 million, involves chartering a vessel for approximately 1,300 days starting from 2025. IWS Fleet will support turbine commissioning (performance verification) operations in the North Sea.
This investment in offshore support vessels marks Sumitomo Corporation’s second major venture in the offshore wind sector, following the establishment of a Dutch-based company that owns four heavy-lift vessels designed to transport wind turbine components. Moving forward, Sumitomo Corporation plans to continue prioritizing investments in construction support vessels and heavy-lift ships.
〆日本の大手商社、住友商事は洋上風力支援船に参画する。
〆ＩＷＳフリートが発行する第三者割当株式を６０００万ユーロで購入する。
住友商事はノルウェーの洋上風力支援船保有・運航会社ＩＷＳフリートに出資参画する。IWSフリートの親会社インテグレーテッド・ウインド・ソリューションズ（Integrated Wind Solutions）が第三者割当増資で新規発行する株式６０００万ユーロ（約１００億円）を住友商事が購入する。住友商事は第三者割当の株式購入により、IWSフリートの発行済み株式25・38％を確保する。IWSフリートは世界２位のＣＳＯＶ（Commissioning Service Operation Vessel）船隊を保有する。
住友商事は２０２４年６月に出資完了を予定する。ＩＷＳフリートは住友商事の持ち分法適用会社となる。住友商事はIWSフリートに取締役の派遣を予定する。
ＣＳＯＶは洋上風車上の作業に従事する技術者に対し、宿泊施設や移動手段を提供するオフショア支援船の一種である。洋上風力プロジェクトの建設段階で必要な支援船として、欧州を中心に需要が増加している。CSOVは2027年に世界で約60隻、30年に100隻以上が必要になると予測されている。