New multi-purpose wind farm support vessel to be designed

BMT will develop the new design utilising its considerable design experience in developing high speed catamarans for rough water applications. The company will also undertake the production design development in order to ensure the adoption of the most efficient and cost effective production methodology.

The first of the series will be a 19m vessel with aft deck load capacity of six tonnes and a fore deck capacity of three tonnes. Additional operational flexibility is provided with the incorporation of integral crane foundations on both the fore and aft deck to allow the vessel to be quickly reconfigured for various different roles in support of wind farm construction and support. In order to optimise the layout of the working deck areas and passenger space the design is being undertaken in partnership with Turbine Transfers.  A key feature of the design is the provision of an exceptionally quiet and comfortable area for the technicians and operators of the vessel.  

The vessel will use MTU engines and Ultra waterjets and will achieve a loaded speed in excess of 26 knots and this will ensure that the vessel will be capable of meeting the most demanding offshore requirements. Construction of the vessel will start shortly at Holyhead Marine, for completion in 2011.