TotalEnergies filing for two German offshore wind zones is more than paperwork—it’s the starter gun for North Sea capacity planning.

Here’s what typically moves first: site investigations. UXO clearance, geophys, and geotech will pull in DP2 multipurpose vessels, survey craft, and guard boats. As route engineering firms firm up layouts, expect trenching support, cable-lay assistance, and towing capacity for barge moves—meaning steady demand for AHTS, tugs, and multicats. Installation spreads follow, but the smartest charterers pre-book enabling tonnage during the spring–autumn weather windows to avoid cascading delays.

The tightest pinch is likely to be DP2 walk-to-work SOVs with high-spec gangways (25–30m transfer height) and battery-hybrid packages. Operators are standardizing on hybrid-ready CTVs running HVO/MGO to meet CO₂ KPIs without sacrificing uptime. One practical trend we’re seeing: charterers are prioritizing proximity—shortlisting vessels already within 300–500 nm of the German Bight to cut steaming days, emissions, and day-rate exposure. Transparency on AIS position, fuel curves, and deck layout (anchor handling vs. survey spread) is becoming a go/no-go filter, not a nice-to-have.

For owners, now is the moment to surface availabilities, certificates, and gangway specs; for brokers, to pre-bundle survey-to-installation sequences; for charterers, to block key assets early and bake in flexible options for weather and port congestion.

Takeaway: permits set the tempo—secure DP2 and walk-to-work capacity early, and minimize steaming to win margin and emissions.

If you’d like to discuss your offshore projects, reach us anytime at sales@seavium.com.