Contract extension

One or more of Tidal Transit’s personnel transfer vessels (PTVs) have been on charter to the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm for almost three years. They have played roles in both the construction and maintenance phases of the 88 wind turbines off the coast of North Norfolk, UK, ferrying technicians and their equipment to the site from Wells-next-the Sea on a regular basis.

As a ‘thank you’ to the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm for the continuous employment of its vessels, Tidal Transit’s Commercial Director Leo Hambro, commissioned a painting by local artist John Hurst.

John has undertaken several major commissions of Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm in the past, including the site under construction. This latest painting is of the three Tidal Transit PTVs, Ginny Louise, Tia Elizabeth and Eden Rose berthed in the outer harbour of Wells-next-the-Sea; one or more of the three vessels have been on charter to the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm since May 2012. The painting was presented by Tidal Transit’s Adam Wright to Jason Halsey of Statkraft on 16 March 2015.

“This painting is a small acknowledgement of the part that Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm has played in the development of our business,” said Leo Hambro, “and the part that Tidal Transit has played and is still playing, in the success of the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm.”

John Hurst is a renowned local landscape artist and North Norfolk resident, and as such, has a special affinity with the region. He holds eight exhibitions a year, the next being at the Norfolk Wildlife Visitors’ Centre in Cley-next-the-Sea from 1st – 27th April 2015.

According to Tidal Transit, the specification of their vessels greatly exceeds the current fleet being used for the same purpose in the UK. The vessels’ MCA Cat 1 coding and 9,000 litre fuel tanks allow them to work up to 150 miles offshore, well within the range of the UK’s forthcoming Round 3 offshore wind farms. Each vessel provides four crew members and twelve passengers with comfortable beds, bathrooms, galley, internet access and entertainment facilities, allowing wind farm engineers and support technicians to live and work offshore for up to several days at a time.

Additionally the company claims that being of GRP construction enables Tidal Transit’s vessels to operate in rough seas – a major advantage when working in the North Sea. Twin V12 MAN engines facilitate speeds of up to 25 knots when carrying twelve passengers, the crew and their on-board cargo.

By Jake Frith