Eastern promise of European WFSV strategy

Njord Offshore specialises in supply services for the offshore windfarm sector and Njord Curlew is the third in a series of eight vessels it is due to receive from Strategic.

Strategic Marine operates principally in the offshore sectors, producing crew boats, support vessels, passenger ferries, and high speed patrol boats. It recently entered the wind farm support vessel sector, where it sees significant growth opportunity.

“We are diversifying and expanding our capability to provide state of the art service vessels for the offshore windfarm sector globally, said Strategic Marine’s executive director Ron Anderson. “Our decision to do so stems from dialogue with colleagues in the renewables industry and to observing greater and greater worldwide demand for such project installations.”

Strategic has teamed with specialist ship designer and engineering consultant BMT to design the vessels for Njord Offshore.

The eight vessels, to be deployed by Madliena Shipping (Jersey) Ltd in Europe’s growing offshore windfarm sector, are 21m, 15 dwt crew transfer catamarans classed by DNV with IAI HSLC R2 Windfarm Service 1 notation. They are powered by MTU engines rated 965 bhp each at 2,250 rpm for speeds up to 26 knots.

Design features include multiple lashdown points for cargo, the capacity to carry a 10ft container on deck, a 6.5 f/t knuckle crane, a removable ‘A’ frame, and a 40m deck reel fuel transfer system.

Each vessel, with a crew of four, can accommodate 12 passengers and provide showers, multimedia capacity and a full galley.

“As part of Strategic’s plans to grow further as a provider to the offshore windfarm markets, we have also established a robust agreement for ship maintenance services with Testbank Ship Repair in the UK, Mr Anderson added.

“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to the European offshore wind market. It ensures the vessels will have long and successful lives after delivery.”

The value of Strategic’s order book for the windfarm service sector is currently USD $30m and rising.

Mr Anderson expressed strong confidence in the market for renewable projects, concluding, “This year we are instigating a newbuild programme to cater for stock requests, a move which has the obvious benefit to clients of shortening delivery times.”