Damen pushes ahead with alternative fuels
The 87m-long CSOVs will operate on dual-fuel hydrogen technology (Source: Damen)
Offshore personnel transfer company, Windcat, has ordered two hydrogen-powered commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs), designed by Damen Shipyards in cooperation with Windcat and CMB.TECH. The ‘Elevation Series’ ships will be built by Damen’s strategic partner in Vietnam, Ha Long Shipyard, where Windcat holds options for more vessels in the same series.
The 87m-long CSOVs, with accommodation for 120 offshore engineers and crew, will operate with the same dual-fuel hydrogen technology that is used on the Hydrocat, the world’s first hydrogen-powered crew transfer vessel. The first pair of CSOVs are due for delivery to Windcat Offshore, a new business unit within tbe Windcat setup, from 2025.
Joost van der Weiden, Damen’s Benelux sales manager, commented: “Damen is committed to becoming the world’s most sustainable shipbuilder and is a recognised pioneer in the development of Service Operation Vessels … We are proud to work together with Windcat and CMB.TECH to build these vessels and make the groundbreaking design of the Windcat Elevation series come to life.”
In a separate development, Damen, Caterpillar Inc and Pon Power have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the joint development of dual-fuel tugs powered by methanol/diesel. The methanol-ready CAT 3500E tugs will be delivered to Damen by Pon Power in 2024 when integration of the vessels’ engines with control, engineering, ventilation and other systems will be carried out, in close cooperation with classification societies.
“We’re delighted to be working with Caterpillar on this groundbreaking project,” declared Joost Mathôt, director of Products at Damen’s Workboats division. “It is of mutual benefit to all the parties involved to begin operating the pilot engines as soon as possible, so that we can experience what it means to use methanol as a fuel in a maritime environment. We are very happy to be continuing our longstanding partnerships and are very confident that together we will be able to offer our end customers the sustainable solutions they are asking for, in the near future.”
