VESSEL REVIEW | Inno’vent – Semi-SWATH crewboat to support France’s Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm

France’s GE Renewables has taken delivery of an offshore wind maintenance crewboat built by OCEA to a design by local naval architecture firm Mauric.

Inno’vent is notable for being the first crewboat to be designed and built locally in France. A second crewboat from the same series is currently under construction. Each vessel has all-aluminium construction and a semi-SWATH hull shape. The latter feature ensures enhanced seakeeping and enables transfers to and from offshore wind turbines even in significant wave heights of up to two metres.

The French-flagged crewboat will be operated by LD Tide, a joint venture company formed by Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) and UK-based Tidal Transit, in support of maintenance activities at the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm in French waters.

Inno’vent has an LOA of 26.7 metres, a beam of 9.4 metres, a draught of 1.8 metres, and space for three crewmembers, 24 technicians, and up to 10 tonnes of deck cargo. As with Mauric’s other crewboats, the main passenger cabin on Inno’vent is fitted on resilient mounts to reduce noise and vibration levels while the boat landing area is ergonomically designed to ensure safety of operation. The deck is also designed to be easily fitted with an active fender system or a motion-compensated gangway if required at a later time.

LDA said Inno’vent and its sister are equipped with a hybrid propulsion system with batteries and foil surfaces to reduce fuel consumption and improve performance. The company added that it expects CO2 emissions to be reduced by about 15 per cent. Charging of the batteries will be via shore power connection.

The hybrid propulsion arrangement includes two MAN D2862LE489 engines that each produce 1,081 kW at 2,100 rpm to propel the crewboat to a maximum speed of 25 knots.

Inno’vent has already commenced operational sailings, transferring technicians plus equipment between the Saint-Nazaire wind farm and LD Tide’s maintenance base at La Turballe.