VESSEL REVIEW | Hydrocat 60 – Hydrogen-powered fast crewboat enters service with Windcat Offshore

Dutch offshore support specialist Windcat Offshore has placed a new windfarm crewboat into service.

Hydrocat 60 is the second in a series of catamaran crewboats to be acquired by Windcat as well as the first of the series to be powered by hydrogen. With an optimised hull shape, increased beam, and elevated freeboard, the series was built to ensure greater accessibility and comfort, making the vessels ideal for operations further offshore.

Design insights provided by operators

Developed in-house by Windcat in compliance with Lloyd's Register class rules and UK flag requirements, the design incorporates feedback and experience from the daily operations of the company's fleet and offers further optimised seakeeping capabilities, larger deck space, and provisions for increased hydrogen storage.

Hydrocat 60 has an LOA of 27.4 metres (89.9 feet), a beam of nine metres (30 feet), a draught of only 2.1 metres (6.9 feet), and 80 square metres (860 square feet) of free space on the fore and aft decks.

Dual-fuel operation for enhanced flexibility

The newbuild is equipped with two D2862 LE458 2,132kW (2,860hp) dual-fuel hydrogen combustion engines co-developed by CMB.Tech and MAN.

The engines drive controllable-pitch propellers and allow the vessel to operate on both hydrogen and traditional diesel fuel, ensuring flexibility and reliability. This configuration is also capable of delivering a top speed of 28 knots, a service speed of 24 knots, and a bollard push of 18 tonnes.

The vessel also features CMB.Tech’s full hydrogen system, capable of storing up to 458 kg of compressed hydrogen.

Alewijnse meanwhile supplied the complete electrical installation, including control consoles and the alarm and monitoring systems.

Construction of Hydrocat 60 took place at the facilities Dutch shipbuilder Dok en Scheepsbouw Woudsend.