Development underway on new amphibious windfarm crewboat

German utilities company RWE and UK operator Commercial RIB Charters (CRC) are presently developing a new type of amphibious vessel that will be used for crew transfer duties.

The crewboat is initially being designed to reach turbines at the Scroby Sands wind farm offshore Norfolk, which has become stranded by the natural rising tide of the sandbank on which it is built.

RWE said the fully seaworthy vessel, which can also drive on land, will provide an access solution for some of the industry’s first-generation assets affected by very dynamic seabed conditions.

Naval architects Chartwell Marine carried out the design work on the crewboat, which is under construction at the Isle of Wight facilities of boatbuilder Diverse Marine. Following delivery, the vessel will be operated by CRC for RWE under a six-year contract.