Why the Offshore Industry is turning to Mini SOVs and why access matters most
June 18, 2025
Offshore access is at a crossroads. Traditional CTVs fall short in range and comfort. Full-size SOVs offer power, but at high capital and operational cost. Somewhere in between lies the solution: Mini SOVs, agile, efficient, purpose-built vessels for mid-range operations in milder seas.
But there’s a catch: Mini SOVs only deliver their full value if they’re equipped with the right gangway system.
Ampelmann’s latest whitepaper unpacks the operational and technical considerations behind this shift. From Baltic wind farms to Mediterranean installations, the paper explores how vessel design, sea states, and motion compensation all converge into one clear insight:
The gangway makes or breaks the Mini SOV.
- Electric A offers 6DOF motion compensation in a compact, lightweight system
- Achieves up to 15% more workability, even in winter
- Eliminates the need for hydraulic units, reducing weight, noise, and energy use
- Enables safer, smoother transfer in mild seas with rolling motion challenges
- Ideal for platforms up to 23m height, with no tower needed
Mini SOVs are not just a new vessel class. They represent a strategic shift in how offshore wind logistics are designed. Learn how Ampelmann is helping shape that future.
Read the full whitepaper here:
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