Austal has confirmed a contract for a fourth wind farm support vessel for Turbine Transfers Limited.
The order is the first for a new Austal design, which will enable safer and more efficient offshore wind turbine service. The new design combines the seakeeping and fuel efficiency benefits of Austal's trimaran hull configuration with a small waterplane area at rest, to deliver low vessel motions both in transit and when alongside turbines. This enables wind farm personnel to be successfully transferred in considerably higher sea states than is practical with catamarans of similar size.
Turbine Transfers is using Austal vessels to support the next phase of wind farm development, which would see a much larger number of turbines installed farther offshore and in other areas with rougher sea conditions. According to Austal CEO Andrew Bellamy said the new design would improve the viability of offshore wind farms by overcoming the seakeeping limitations of the support vessels currently used in the industry. As well as minimising seasickness amongst personnel and providing safer transfer conditions, the new design's enhanced seakeeping performance can improve the economics of offshore wind farms.
Turbine Transfers is a wholly owned subsidiary of Holyhead Towing Company, which has been operating workboats since the early 1960s. Turbine Transfers currently operates a fleet of over 20 fast catamarans that transport personnel and equipment to and from offshore wind turbines. The order is part of the company's ongoing fleet expansion plans, which already includes three 21-metre catamarans ordered from Austal in July 2011. Construction of those vessels is progressing well, with delivery scheduled for May this year. The new vessel will initially be chartered to Turbine Transfers for a period of up to five years. It is scheduled for completion in November.
The vessel is designed to operate in ocean areas of all European countries, including in the demanding conditions of the North, Irish and Baltic Seas. It is designed to operate in up to 3.0 metres significant wave height. The 27.4 metre long, 10.5 metre wide vessel will be operated by three crew and be able to transfer 12 wind farm technicians, their effects and over four tonnes of deck cargo, stores and miscellaneous equipment.
Two 900kW MTU diesels coupled to waterjets will provide a service speed of 23 knots, with the directional thrust of the waterjets being supplemented by a bow thruster for low speed manoeuvring and station keeping. With an operating range in excess of 360 nautical miles, the vessel will be able to operate up to 75 nautical miles offshore, well beyond the distances of current wind farms.
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