Danish-CAT-SWATH crew tender makes waves

The 25m long and 10.6m wide Lina is the latest CAT-SWATH from Danish Yachts in Skagen. In time-charter with E.ON in the German North Sea it is billed as a high-speed crew transfer vessel built of carbon fibre sandwich panels. It is the fifth offshore wind SWATH-CAT from Danish Yachts and follows a series of four first generation boats delivered to the Norwegians in 2013.

Lina’s hull is of reinforced glass-fibre composite and the boat weighs 93.6t – a reduction of 15% over the original 110t design. Danish Yachts, which claims its boats are 50% lighter than those of competitors – says this has meant improved fuel efficiency, range, speed and sea-going stability.

It says stability has also been improved by re-locating some heavy equipment to the lower parts of the twin hulls providing an even lower centre of gravity and improved performance. The boat also reportedly incorporates a unique water-assisted trim system for fast transfer between CAT and SWATH modes.

CEO Patrik von Sydow said “we are pushing the boundaries of design and innovation and advancing with carbon composite production techniques to continually improve safety standards …”.

Lina is propelled by two MTU 10V 2000 M72 900kW main engines acting on fast, controllable SPPs and providing 23 knots in CAT mode. Thrusters, two each at stern and bow, are of 1200 daN apiece and two 70kW auxiliary engines are also on board. Range is 26 hours or 1000 nautical miles at 90% MCR and Lina can operate in waves up to 2.5m high .

Fredrik Odfjell of Odfjell Wind told this correspondent Lina had already seen service in waves up to two metres “to E.ON satisfaction”. He said that “in high seas vessel draft is increased by lowering her … in SWATH mode” and added the boat benefitted from “the combination of high speed in CAT mode and reduced movement in SWATH mode”.

Mr Odfjell told MJ a further SWATH boat was on order with Danish Yachts for delivery in June 2015. “We … assume that we will order further boats in the near future”, he said. “The Danish Maritime Directorate is strict but easy and fair to work with and the tax system for the crew is competitive”, he added giving one reason why Odfjell had chosen Danish newbuilds.

The further boat he is referring to will be a 32m faster CAT-SWATH design for the oil and gas industry. It will be 11m wide and engine configuration will be similar to Lina with two MTU 12V 2000 M72-1080kW main engines.

By Tom Todd