AWARDS 2023 | Best Small WFSV – JLD Virginie – Piriou

Best Small WFSV – JLD Virginie – Piriou

This is a smart functional little aluminium catamaran that boasts a number of interesting features, especially the aft location of its wheelhouse.

Built in Piriou’s busy Vietnam yard, the vessel is very adaptably multi-role. It is safe, fast, comfortable, economical and very capable.

“It was the first crewboat we designed and built in-house after having delivered several other crewboats in previous years,” Sylvain Montels, Sales Manager Commercial for Piriou, told Baird Maritime. “She is fully French flag-compliant, allowing her to participate in the development of the French offshore wind industry.”

Montels added that the vessel’s engines are IMO Tier III-compliant, and that vessel itself is prepared for future conversion to accommodate hybrid propulsion.

“The resiliently mounted passenger lounge is interchangeable with different possible configurations, either 24 or 12 passengers plus cabins, for instance. An additional impact mitigation system has also been added to the bow fender, permitting the transfers of personnel in up to two metres significant wave heights. All in all, it is a flexible and versatile crewboat with a particular focus on technicians’ comfort and safety while being capable of environment-friendly and sustainable operations.”

Montels identified decarbonisation as posing a major challenge in the offshore energy industry.

“Even the crewboat segment is faced with this challenge, and it is especially true when you operate in the marine renewables business, as regulatory agencies and energy companies require it.”

In consideration of this, Piriou has been developing a new crewboat with a hybrid propulsion system, with completion scheduled within a few months.

“The key point to remember is that decarbonising has a cost, and the market has to integrate this cost.”

For a list of the 2023 “Best Of” award winners, please click here.