OWMPS' first support vessel is the 10m South Catamaran Fastcat, which is in service on the North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm in the Irish Sea. Working with offshore wind farm developers has enabled OWMPS to gain a knowledge and understanding of their needs and thus collaborate effectively with South Boats Special Projects to produce the optimal purpose-built offshore wind farm service vessel (WFSV).

The vessel at Seawork, Offshore Provider, will be a South Catamaran 44/14 aluminium built WFSV weighing in at 20 tons and measuring 15m LOA with a 6.1m beam and a 1m draft.

The aluminium structure and shell are enormously overbuilt to withstand the pressures exerted on a vessel of this type and to prolong its service life.

Power will be supplied by twin Scania DI12 500 hp marine diesels coupled to Twin Disc QuickShift 5114 gearboxes driving UltraDynamics 376 waterjet units to provide an 18 knots service speed and the capability to sprint above 20 knots if required. A sophisticated control system for the helmsman has been designed jointly by South Boats and UltraDynamics and built by the latter. It comprises full electronic steering using either star wheel or joysticks to control each waterjet individually on both steering and buckets, enabling excellent manoeuvrability whilst docking turbines.

Twin 1,275 litre fuel tanks can be filled by deck filler at marinas or via a camlock fitting for quick fill from road tankers.

The layout of the vessel takes crew transfer safety to a new level, with a lowered main deck providing bulwark protection and 1m railing right around the perimeter of the vessel. The deck is fitted with numerous safety rails, safety signage and deck lighting to provide safe transfer to the MKIII bow loading platform accessed via an internal platform.

The bow fendering arrangement allows for the totally safe transfer of engineers in most conditions.

Whilst in passage to site, each engineer is cocooned in a heated, fully insulated wheelhouse with a KAB214 suspension seat with lap belt. The wheelhouse provides excellent vision through large windows and is centrally mounted to minimise sea motion for the engineers.

Hydraulic systems include a Palfinger PK4501M knuckle boom crane and a Spencer Carter deck capstan.

Offshore Provider will be MCA coded to meet category 2 to carry three crew and 12 passengers up to 60nm from safe haven. The vessel will also have a full MCA stability booklet to carry additional deck cargo and a loadline mark stamped and painted, as well as forward and aft draft marks.

MJInformation No: 21727