Luxurious ferry to Floatel conversions

Visually, the former Siluna Aceand Simara Acegive give the impression of luxury super yachts but the two vessels, built by Remontowa Gdansk in 2007 and 2008, are in reality former passenger ferries for the short haul Öresund service between Denmark and Sweden and as such won the Ferry Exterior ShipPax Award 2008.

The provision of access to offshore wind turbines, both during the construction phase and for O&M work over the lifespan of the windfarm, is an important consideration for developers to ponder as projects, increasingly further offshore, make the traditional daily commute to work for technicians from nearby ports unsustainable. A number of solutions based around the floating hotel principle are emerging, ranging from the proposal from Tidal Transits for a 20m, 12 passenger craft capable of operating offshore for several days at a time, to the concept design from Offshore Ship Designers, for a 187m, 200 passenger ship with a dry/wet dock for smaller craft. Fixed offshore accommodation platforms are another option under consideration.

Lying somewhere in between, these two vessels, now owned by Chevalier Floatels, were recently delivered to Holland Shipyards for the completion of the conversion work. Atlas Ship Delivery, also based in The Netherlands, has been awarded the management contract for the vessels.

The vessels, to be named DP Galyna and Gezina, were built to LR Class, +100A1 Passenger Ship, Ice 1C, +LMC, UMS (the former will include DP-2 notation) and weigh in at 1,616gt. Specifications include lengths of 66.4m/60.4m, beam of 14m/11.4m and drafts of 3.5m/2.8m respectively. As is now accepted as the norm with standards of accommodation in the offshore oil and gas industry, emphasis is increasingly being put on the quality of such facilities in the offshore wind industry. This trend is evident in the standard of passenger comfort within the burgeoning small support vessel market, currently operating at operational windfarms and those under construction.

Chevalier Floatels is clearly aiming at similarly high standards with these new additions. Accommodation will consist of 56 cabins (of which 42 will be for client use, single or double occupancy), all en suite and including internet, television and game console facilities. Diesel electric propulsion is provided by three Volvo Penta D30A engines driving twin Schottel azimuthing thrusters. A 300kW bow thruster is also included.

The DP Galyna will include an Ampelmann heave compensated gangway, both vessels will also be equipped with fast crewboats for personnel transfers in moderate weather conditions. Passenger comfort will be further enhanced with the installation of Rolls-Royce Marine stabilisers.

By Peter Barker