OFFSHORE RENEWABLES

Boat share scheme for wind farm workboats

15 years ago

CWind, the only British company to be awarded a Siemens vessel charter contract on the London Array out of a European shortlist, has taken delivery of CWind Athenia, a 20 ton payload, multi-purpose catamaran (MPC).

CWind Athenia is part owned by a local skipper, with CWind managing the contracts and finances, through to the QHSE procedures.

CWind Athenia is the second vessel built by CTruk Boats to fulfil CWind’s Siemens contract, incorporating three vessels operating out of Ramsgate on the London Array Offshore Wind Farm. The third vessel is expected to launch in the spring. CTruk Boats has also signed a two vessel deal for 20 ton MPCs with another local operator.

CWind Athenia is 18.5m LOA, with a robust build which provides solid sea-keeping abilities. The vessel has a small carbon footprint, claiming to burn 90 litres less diesel an hour than an equivalent aluminium vessel.

Part of CWind’s boat share scheme, CWind Athenia is a joint venture with local skipper Dave Bachelor. It will be joining Dave Bachelor’s current vessel at the London Array, where the work will mostly involve organising crew transfers. CWind Athenia incorporates CTruk Boats’ flexible pod system, which gives the vessel the versatility to be easily adapted to carry different loads. It comes standard with 16,000 litres in-hull fuel capacity, delivering a 2,400 nautical mile operational range or providing capacity for re-fuelling work.

CWind’s boat share scheme is designed to enable owner/operators to access the growing wind farm market with the backing of an experienced operator. The scheme enables local skippers to part invest in a CWind vessel, with CWind managing the contracts and finances, through to the QHSE procedures. CWind and the skippers share in the profits.

CTruk Boats takes an innovative approach to work vessel design and build. The company has applied for a patent for its flexible pod system, designed specifically to meet the varied needs of wind farm support work. The bespoke pods enable operators to change the vessel’s layout within a few hours. CTruk also uses vacuum infusion to build composite boats to the highest standards, saving up to 40% on weight, and has developed a manufacturing process that enables modular construction, increasing production efficiency.

CTruk Boats has built two 20 ton payload, multi-purpose catamarans this year, has a third underway and is building a SWATH which will increase the current wave height limits for technician transfer.