Vessel designer Chartwell Marine has partnered with naval architects BAR Technologies to support delivery of the latest generation of offshore wind crew transfer vessels (CTVs).
The partnership will forward the development of new vessel designs ranging from 30-meter CTVs through to 60-meter service accommodation and transfer vessels (SATVs), making use of BAR’s patented foil optimization and stabilization system (FOSS).
While the offshore energy support vessel market is currently served by existing designs — such as the versatile Chartwell 24 catamaran for wind farm construction and O&M support — the trend for building further out at sea presents new challenges in the form of longer journeys and rougher waters. These challenges are further compounded by the drive to reduce operating costs, and carbon emissions, by cutting fuel consumption.
This has led to an industry demand for larger vessels that are designed specifically for bulk crew transfers and longer distance voyages and demonstrate greater efficiency and lower fuel burn, leading to fuel savings for operators and a reduced carbon footprint. The industry is pushing for vessels that can operate for longer periods — to the extent of crew and technicians sleeping on board, requiring an advanced hull.
Responding to this trend in CTV procurement, BAR, with the support of Chartwell, have created a 30-meter vessel which can reduce vertical acceleration by up to 70% in 2.5-meter wave heights, helping with motion sickness and offering greater levels of availability in rougher seas. BAR’s FOSS technology, which helps to dampen pitch and roll, will also be an option available on new Chartwell vessels, and can be offered and applied to the Chartwell 24 vessel increasing its seakeeping capability and maneuverability.
“As offshore wind expands globally, the challenges of constructing and maintaining wind farms in a variety of locales requires forward-thinking CTV operators to make use of the full range of vessel sizes available to the market,” said Andy Page, Managing Director, Chartwell Marine. “With industry demand coalescing around larger vessels, there is a clear opportunity to deploy the latest technology and knowledge from other maritime sectors to deliver a new range of 30-meter-plus CTVs which satisfy the growing requirements of offshore wind while, crucially, meeting the latest needs in efficiency.”
John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies, added: “We see the Chartwell 24 and BAR 30-meter vessels as natural partners. The former provides high versatility, high payload and large deck space, while the latter demonstrates up to 50% fuel efficiency savings at 15 knots and advanced seakeeping at speed, which is particularly noticeable on longer journeys — as well as great static seakeeping attributes. Chartwell’s strong engineering capability and design heritage has allowed us to create an advanced superior solution for owner-operators based on their varied project requirements.”
News item from Chartwell Marine
Filed Under: News, O&M, Services
