VESSEL REVIEW | Tor Boreas – New utility vessel to serve offshore wind, towing and marine construction sectors

UK-based Tor Group has completed construction of a new utility vessel for use by subsidiary Tor Boreas in supporting customers in the offshore energy and marine civil construction industries.

Tor Boreas was designed by UK naval architecture firm Macduff Ship Design. It was built to support multiple industries but with a specific ability to conduct a large range of tasks within the offshore wind sector.

Tor Boreas has an LOA of 26.95 metres (88.42 feet), a beam of 11 metres (36 feet), a maximum draught of 3.5 metres (11 feet), a depth of 4.35 metres (14.3 feet), a gross tonnage of 397, and accommodation for six crewmembers and up to 12 additional personnel. The vessel is of modular construction to enable more time off the slipway in a purpose-built facility.

It is designed with a registered length of less than 24 metres (79 feet) to allow it to operate under UK MCA Workboat Code edition III regulations but has also been built to Bureau Veritas regulations and approval to allow for international operation.

Compact multi-role platform

The vessel boasts a number of key capabilities including harbour towing, boulder grappling, and dive support. The selection of equipment includes a Melcal 13-tonne offshore crane, a Melcal hydraulic A-frame with a five-tonne lifting capacity, a 25-tonne electrically driven aft towing winch, a 500mm stern roller, a moonpool, and an aft deck with a clear deck area of 70 square metres (750 square feet).

To provide additional flexibility for underwater operations, the moonpool has been arranged to permit work with either the A-frame or the crane while the aft deck can carry up to 60 tonnes of cargo or three 20-foot containers. The deck is also arranged with a modular installation for dive and survey support units.

Designed for improved comfort and reduced environmental impact

The propulsion arrangement consists of three MAN D2676 340ekW generators driving two VEM 500kW permanent magnet motors connected to Schottel SRP 210 azimuthing fixed-pitch propellers. This configuration delivers a speed of 11 knots and a bollard pull of 17 tonnes.

A diesel-electric powertrain was selected to ensure optimal efficiency, while an IMO Tier III exhaust system guarantees reduced emissions during operation compared to a conventional diesel-driven vessel.

For dynamic positioning, the vessel relies on a Veth VT-90 bow thruster operating in conjunction with the Schottel azimuthing drives. A four-point mooring system and a Veem gyrostabilisation system will meanwhile enable longer-term station keeping.

These systems can significantly reduce vessel motions for crew comfort and for allowing service operations to be conducted in higher sea states than would normally be possible.

Below deck the vessel is split into six compartments to allow it to meet single compartment flooding requirements.

The onboard facilities include two one-person officers’ cabins, eight two-person cabins, a galley, a mess, lounges, a divers’ control room, a changing room, a laundry area, and a lobby. The cabins come with en suite toilets.

Ergonomic layout coupled with enhanced safety features

The wheelhouse is arranged with all-round visibility including full-height windows aft to provide excellent visibility of the aft working deck. The wheelhouse has a main forward command position and an auxiliary station aft. There is also a communal area to port with a small pantry area.

A Novec 1230 fixed suppression system is fitted for extinguishing onboard fires. Should evacuation become necessary, the occupants have access to two 20-person inflatable liferafts. A four-metre (13-foot) outboard-powered boat that can seat six people will meanwhile be used for MOB recovery.

With the ability to carry 70 cubic metres (2,500 cubic feet) of fuel and over 35 cubic metres (1,200 cubic feet) of freshwater, combined with the onboard sewage treatment system, the vessel has the ability to stay out at sea for an extended period.

Tor Boreas is available for bareboat charter or sale.