Super-agile SOV completes sea trials

The walk-to-work vessel, custom-designed for the offshore energy industry, has a 3D crane, a SMST gangway and elevator tower, and both an X-Bow and X-Stern. During the trials, the vessel demonstrated new levels of workability, in-field agility, offshore logistics and comfort on board, according to Ulstein.
The ship’s speed, both ahead and astern, were put to the test, and the Acta Auriga recorded a maximum aftward speed of 12.5 knots and more than 13.5 knots when proceeding ahead. The noise and vibration level tests proved to be well within the limits of the high comfort class on this vessel, Ulstein said.
The combination of bow and stern configurations fulfils two important functions. In transit mode in a head sea, the X-Bow enables the vessel to maintain speed with no slamming and less vibration. On the other hand, when operating in dynamically positioned mode adjacent to a wind turbine or an offshore platform, keeping the S-Stern towards the weather also eliminates slamming and will enable the vessel to remain on station with a lower thruster load, and correspondingly reduced fuel consumption.  
The Acta Auriga is now undergoing completion works prior to delivery to Acta Marine. At that time, the vessel will begin a two-year charter for operations and maintenance work on Germany’s BARD Offshore 1 wind farm.