VESSEL REVIEW | Yngve – Fish farm workboat built for Norway's coastal waters

Norwegian aquaculture support company Finnsnes Dykk and Anleggservice has taken delivery of a new catamaran workboat designed by local naval architecture firm Marin Design and built by Croatian shipyard Brodotrogir Cruise.

Yngve boasts twin steel hulls, an aluminium superstructure, a length of 14.99 metres (49.18 feet), a moulded beam of 12 metres (39 feet), a maximum draught of 4.5 metres (15 feet), and space for six crewmembers.

The vessel’s open aft deck can transport up to 80 tonnes of assorted payloads (including one 20-foot or two 10-foot ISO containers) while the port and starboard cargo holds have a combined capacity of 55 cubic metres (1,900 cubic feet).

Stable work platform for nearshore operations

The “tunnel” between the catamaran hulls sits one metre (three feet) above the waterline. Robin Johansen, Sales Manager at Moen Marin, said this feature makes the vessel suitable for use in demanding conditions. Coupled with roll reduction tanks, the catamaran design ensures that the vessel has enhanced stability even in rough seas.

The hybrid electric propulsion system consists of a Zem 594kW battery pack, two Danfoss 575kW permanent magnet motors, Kumera propellers and gearboxes, two Finnøy rudders, two ST65-160-SE side thrusters and a steering system from PHM, and Caterpillar C18 and C9.3 diesel generators fed by an 18-cubic-metre (640-cubic-foot) tank.

The propulsion can deliver a top speed of 10 knots, a cruising speed of eight knots, and a bollard pull of 15 tonnes.

Shore power connection facilities are also available to enable the workboat to plug into the local grid to supply electrical power for the various onboard systems when berthed, thus reducing reliance on the onboard generators.

Two 200Ah starter batteries are available for use with the generators and two other 200Ah batteries are for service purposes and emergency battery use, respectively. A 50Ah will serve as the primary radio battery.

Full deck equipment and electronics suites

The vessel’s other liquid tanks can carry 10 cubic metres (350 cubic feet) of freshwater and 28 cubic metres (990 cubic feet) of ballast water.

The deck equipment includes PMH five-tonne and eight-tonne capstans, Palfinger Marine PK150002M and PK41002M cranes, a stern roller, and SHM gear consisting of 40-tonne and 20-tonne winches, guide pins, shark jaws and plate locks.

The electronics consist of a radar, a VHF radio, a compass, an echosounder and a navtex from Furuno, an Olex plotter, a Simrad autopilot, a Navy Rørvik DP0 system, a class A AIS, and an anemometer and current sensors from Gill.

Glamox supplied the exterior work lights and underwater lights with cameras are also fitted. The latter will help the workboat’s crew monitor the condition of the tethered JM Robotics remotely operated vehicle.

The accommodation includes two one-person crew cabins on the main deck, two two-person crew cabins below the main deck, a client’s cabin, a galley, a day room/mess, and a wardrobe with toilet. The crew cabins feature en suite toilets and showers and all onboard spaces have improved noise insulation as well as wifi and satellite TV connectivity.

Yngve was designed in compliance with Norwegian Maritime Authority requirements covering operation in coastal waters. Although designed primarily to support operations at fish farms, the vessel may also be used in construction works and pipeline installation in coastal waters.