Two of the vessels, Solway Spirit and MPI Sancho Panza, will be examples of the ‘industry standard’ South Catamaran alloy 47/15m WFSV (Wind Farm Service Vessel), with their presence backing up Marine Renewable Energy as one of the themes of the Seawork Conference. Also on show will be 'Reetta', a GRP South Catamaran 36/11m MkII Sports Cruiser.

South Boats has been supplying vessels to offshore wind farms for over three years and the specifications and requirements have developed to meet the growing demand and changing aspects of wind farm construction and maintenance.

Early boats such as ‘Sirocco’ and ‘Offshore Provider’ were welcomed by site owners and contractors for offering new levels of crew comfort and sea keeping and have worked successfully on various projects in the UK and Holland. Since these vessels were constructed, contractors have pushed the emphasis on speed and passage time, and South Boats has been analysing how speeds can be increased without affecting crew comfort.

The latest generation of vessels being produced by the company now feature larger engines, larger water jet units, upgraded passenger saloons and further improved sea keeping.

Recent vessels launched include ‘Offshore Progress’, a second vessel for Offshore Wind Power Marine Services Ltd. and ‘Carmel Head’, the first vessel in a fleet being built for fellow Seawork exhibitors Holyhead Towing Company Ltd.

Both vessels have identical hulls and systems but different superstructure designs. The former is fitted with a larger version of the original flying bridge style wheelhouse with a single level saloon and helm position. The latter vessel features the company’s new ‘crew bus’ style superstructure with raised wheelhouse and a separate saloon for passengers.

Scania engines have been adopted as a standard for all water jet powered vessels and the company offers two hull forms to suit either the Scania DI12 60M engine rated at 440kw for speeds to 24 knots or the Scania DI16 43M engine rated at 550kw for speeds to 28 knots. Both engine options are fitted to Ultra Dynamics UJ451 water jet units giving excellent performance and thrust and enhanced station keeping due to high levels of static thrust.

‘Solway Spirit’ has been constructed for E.ON Climate & Renewables UK Ltd. for their Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm project on the Solway Firth and will operate from the Port of Workington. The vessel, which will be exhibited at Seawork, has the ‘crew bus’ style saloon fitted with a basic KAB214 seat option for 12 passengers, large galley area and forward access to the raised wheelhouse.

The wheelhouse is fitted with a fully integrated navigation and communications system supplied by Ambex Ltd of Brighton. This features an Olex charting system, Furuno primary radar, Furuno secondary radar/chartplotter, Furuno video sounder, Furuno AIS, Furuno Navtex, Furuno GPS’s, Furuno auto-pilot, Furuno load hailer and Furuno DSC VHF’s.

Switchraft Taplin was chosen to design, supply and fit the electrical systems to all of the current vessels including ‘Solway Spirit’. The system includes pre-manufactured and wired distribution and switch panels that fit to the console.

A Palfinger PK4501 fully folding hydraulic knuckle boom crane is fitted to the after deck, completing a Hercules Hydraulics package of equipment including pump, tanks, capstan, all hosing and wheelhouse control panels. The vessel has a removable centre section of transom to aid cross-stern lifting and the recovery of wave rider buoys.

Solway Spirit's operator E.ON is the UK’s largest power and gas company, generating and distributing electricity, and supplying power and gas to millions of homes and businesses nationwide. At 1,80MW Robin Rigg will be one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world. It will consist of 60 3MW Vestas turbines located in the middle of the Solway Firth.

Once operational the wind farm will be capable of generating enough electricity to power the equivalent of 117,000 homes as well as displacing the emission of over 200,000 tonnes of harmful greenhouse gases annually.

Ben Colman of the Cowes based commercial boat builder says, 'South Boats is delighted to have built Solway Spirit for E.ON and to be working closely with E.ON on future projects. This vessel demonstrates that the South Cat is the market leading vessel for servicing offshore wind farms.'

Tom Whiting, project developer for E.ON UK added, 'Getting our offshore technicians out to site in a safe and timely manner is crucial to the long term success of any offshore wind farm. The South Boats Catamaran is a proven performer that ticks all the boxes and we can’t wait to get her up to the Solway.'

‘MPI Sancho Panza’ is South Boats' first offshore wind farm service vessel to be delivered to MPI Offshore Ltd, an associate company of the Vroon Shipping Group based in Holland which a big presence in the construction of offshore wind farms and in the oil & gas Industry. MPI Offshore is best known as the operators of the world’s largest jack-up vessel, the 'MV Resolution'. This $100m ship represents by far the largest investment to date in offshore wind installation technology.

MPI Sancho Panza is the first in a fleet of offshore wind farm service vessels to be powered by Scania’s 16 litre V8 main engines as opposed to the smaller straight 6 engines. This class of vessel expected to have a sprint speed in excess of 28 knots, making it one of the fastest service vessels working on offshore wind farms. These engines are fitted with Twin Disc MGX5135 ‘Quickshift’ gearboxes supplied, fitted and commissioned by Marine & Industrial Transmissions Ltd. (MIT) of Queenborough.

This vessel uses the ‘crew bus’ style superstructure but is fitted with the standard KAB514 design of high back crew seat fitted with arm rests and head rests giving engineers and VIP’s alike a higher level of comfort between port and site.

Again the wheelhouse navigation and communication and electronics has been fully integrated, supplied and commissioned by Ambex Ltd of Brighton and the vessel's electrical systems have been fitted by Switchraft Taplin of Southampton. Seaglaze Marine Windows Ltd. of Norwich provides all windows and doors for South Boats aluminium and GRP catamarans. The MPI Sancho Panza’ will also be on the Seawork 2008 pontoon.

There are a further 10 similar South Catamaran 47/14m Alloy WFSV vessels currently in build or on order, all for existing clients including Offshore Wind Power Marine Services Ltd., Holyhead Towing Co. Ltd. and Northern Marine Services AB.

As technology progresses and wind farms move further and further offshore another range of vessels has been designed and a number are already in build and on order.

Two South Catamaran 66/20m Alloy WFSV vessels are currently in build for MPI Offshore Ltd. and Holyhead Towing Co. Ltd. with further vessels on order. Northern Offshore Services AB has ordered a South Catamaran 58/17m Alloy WFSV. These first larger vessels are due for delivery in 2009 and may make an appearance at Seawork 2009.

In addition to these vessels, South Boats continues to build class leading 10m, 11m and the newly introduced 12m GRP catamarans. The company will also be exhibiting ‘Reetta’ a South Catamaran 36/11m MkII Sports Cruiser at Seawork 2008, which is the first of the GRP South Cats to be fitted with the company’s new wheelhouse design.

Reetta is destined for Helsinki and has been fitted out to her owner’s choice of layout, colours and furnishings. Fitted with twin Iveco NEF 330hp engines for speeds to 25 knots, the vessel is built in a striking colour scheme of black and white with all grey and black interior.