German offshore helicopter operator Heli Service International (HSI) has signed a hoisting contract with DHSS, a Dutch provider of ship agency and offshore services, to work alongside MHI Vestas Offshore Wind in support of a multi-year contract for maintenance operations at the Deutsche Bucht offshore wind farm in the German sector of the North Sea. The farm comprises 31 MHI Vestas wind turbines. DHSS will be responsible for helicopter hoist operations for technicians and material to wind turbines using Leonardo AW169 and/or AW139 helicopters provided by HSI.

HSI was the first helicopter operator in Germany to operate the Leonardo AW139 with a specially assembled dual hoist, and says it is the first operator worldwide to deploy the Leonardo AW169 for offshore use.

The helicopter hoisting contract follows a long-term one for ship agency and port logistics services from DHSS' operations and maintenance hub in Eemshaven for MHI Vestas at Deutsche Bucht. The helicopter operations will be the first flight operations conducted from Eemshaven heliport, which is walking distance from DHSS's logistics base in the port.

“We are delighted that, in very close cooperation with MHI Vestas and HSI, we at DHSS have been selected as contract partner for the hoisting activity at Deutsche Bucht,” says Wim Schouwenaar, CEO of DHSS. “This completes the full scope of assistance we are providing for the wind farm where all our service lines are used for the client. We value the cooperation between the three main parties involved, the path we have walked together towards this agreement and the continued confidence in our high level of safety, quality and performance standards.”

Ole Jacob Wang Nielsen, head of offshore engineering and aviation at MHI Vestas, adds: “Having worked with DHSS for several years now, we have the utmost confidence in its offshore services in the support of maintenance of our wind turbines.”

The Deutsche Bucht offshore wind farm is located more than 100 km from the German mainland and approximately 95 km northwest of the island of Borkum.