South Boats-designed CTV will be built at U.S. yard Blount Boats
The 21m crew transfer vessel designed by South Boats, Isle of Wight (Illustration: South Boats)
The 21m-long crew transfer vessel (CTV) is based on a design by British yard South Boats IOW (Isle of Wight) and will operate for Deepwater Wind Block Island in Rhode Island. The five-turbine wind farm, the first commercial wind farm in the U.S., is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2016. In 2011, Blount Boats signed a licensing agreement with South Boats to become the exclusive shipyard to build U.S.-flagged aluminium catamarans of South Boats IOW designs for the U.S. wind farm industry. The South Boats-designed 21m wind farm vessel is an all aluminium catamaran. It will be dual certified to carry up to 49 passengers and up to 16 offshore workers. The CTV’s two MAN main engines will drive two HamiltonJet HM571 waterjets via ZF Marine 3050 marine gears. The vessel is predicted to reach sprint speeds in excess of 28 knots, with the ability to cruise at 27 knots when in a light condition and 23 knots in loaded condition. The vessel is designed to carry up to 12 tonnes of cargo in the bow and three tonnes of cargo in the stern.
