Why the Offshore Industry is turning to Mini SOVs and why access matters most

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:

Up to 15% higher workability with the right gangway integration
Designed for sea states up to 3m Hs
Electric 6DOF hexapod ensures full-motion compensation with minimal energy use
No tower. No HPU. Just lean, efficient offshore access
Proven track record in PSV conversions and platform transfers up to 23m high

If you’re considering Mini SOVs for your fleet, this is the paper that shows how to make them perform.