Servogear success in windfarm market

The Servogear propulsion solution using CP propellers is claimed to offer considerable advantages for the varying load requirements of wind farm support vessels and independent tests on various propulsion systems for fast vessels carried out by SSPA in Sweden and Marintek in Norway have demonstrated the efficiency of the system.

Servogear has developed a dedicated control system for use with wind farm support vessels that ensures the optimum interaction between the engine and the propulsion system. This delivers an economic solution when fast transit speeds are required and then produces maximum thrust and manoeuvrability control when operating at the wind farm pylon.

It takes just the press of a button to switch the propulsion control from transit mode into wind turbine landing mode. This first of all uses the precise manoeuvring capabilities of the CP propeller to make a soft landing against the turbine and then applies maximum bollard thrust once the safe landing has been made to hold the vessel in position to ensure safe transfers.

In the transit mode the system carefully matches the engine rpm and the propeller pitch to prevent any chance of engine overload and to ensure that the vessel is operating at the required speed with maximum fuel economy. It is claimed that by reducing engine overload the life of the engine is prolonged.

Servogear claims that up to ten wind farm support vessel operators are now using their propulsion system. Windcat Workboats has now equipped ten of their catamaran designs with the system, including its latest 27m design, which is one of the fastest of the current generation of support vessels with a speed of 31 knots.

Other operators have used multi-vessel installations and many of these are for the latest larger designs of support vessel that are being developed to meet the requirements for the Round 3 wind farms where longer transit voyages are required. The Servogear installations also include some of the more innovative designs, such as tri-hull SWATH designs that Fjellstrand is building for World Marine Offshore. These vessels are powered by four Scania D13 diesels coupled to two shafts using a Servogear supplied gearbox.

At the latest count Servogear has equipped 42 wind farm support vessels with its propulsion solutions. Servogear also supplies the Norwegian sea rescue organisation with propulsion systems for its lifeboats and has equipped many offshore oil support vessels and fast ferries. Now celebrating its 40^th birthday, Servogear is investing in advanced machinery to enhance their production capabilities.

Further information: www.servogear.no

By Dag Pike