Chartwell CTVs for US offshore wind market

Atlantic Wind Transfers (AWT), the first US offshore wind farm support company, has ordered six Ambitious-class Crew Transfer Vessels (CTV) designed by UK-based vessel designer, Chartwell Marine.

“The US offshore wind market is expanding rapidly and AWT’s pioneering vision to support this growth aligns well with our own ambition to bring versatile, high-performance crew transfer vessels to the markets that need them most. With its performance and versatility, the Ambitious delivers on the needs of the growing US market,” said Andy Page, director and naval architect at Chartwell Marine.

Significant experience

Orders for Chartwell’s flagship CTV design, the Ambitious, a 25.2m aluminium catamaran with capacity to transport 24 personnel, are now well into double-figures, with boats currently operating in Scotland, France and Virginia.

Mr Page added that the company is looking forward to delivering its knowledge and expertise to the US market.

“Our recently launched range of offshore energy support vessel designs builds on the successes underpinning the Ambitious, adapting its proven formula to service the variety and complexity of offshore energy requirements. Key among these requirements is the soaring demand for peak operational performance, balanced with improved sustainability to control the sector’s carbon profile.” 

AWT’s order comprises six CTVs, and will be constructed by St John’s Ship Building Inc at its shipyard in Palatka, Florida. The first two vessels are expected to be delivered in Summer 2023 and January 2024 respectively, with four further builds in the pipeline.

These vessels will be the first US-built CTVs to be compliant with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 4 regulations, which rank among the most stringent emissions rules for marine engines in the world.

They will also be US Jones-Act Compliant vessels certified under US Coast Guard Subchapter L, meaning they will be able to operate on any windfarm in the United States up to 150 miles offshore, under the strict standards of the US Coast Guard.

AWT currently operates the only two crew transfer vessels in the US under long-term contracts, servicing the Block Island Wind Farm and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Farm.