From show to charter
UK- based vessel operator Tidal Transit have reported that their newest personnel transfer vessel (PTV), ‘Kitty Petra’, has begun the first planned charter contract straight after making a successful debut at Seawork International.
The Mercurio Plastics (ESP) built GRP catamaran began working for RWE Innogy UK at the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm on 20th June 2014. Gwynt y Môr is a £2 billion+ project consisting of 160 turbines in Liverpool Bay off the coast of North Wales; construction is due to be completed later this year.
“We are all delighted that it has been possible to finalise the first contract for Kitty Petra so soon after her arrival in the UK,” said Leo Hambro from Tidal Transit. “For the duration of this initial charter, she will be operating out of Mostyn in North Wales, carrying construction workers, tools and equipment to the wind farm. This west coast contract is a first for Tidal Transit vessels; our other three PTVs, Ginny Louise, Eden Rose and Tia Elizabeth, all of which are built to the same high technical specification as Kitty Petra, are chartered to offshore wind farms off the east coast. This is our first charter to RWE Innogy UK, and indicates that we have no geographical limitations”.
A second charter for Kitty Petra is in the final stages of negotiation, and should be in place by the time the Gwynt y Môr contract finishes in late September 2014. This will see the vessel fully employed throughout the winter.
Of Tidal Transit’s experience at Seawork, Leo Hambro added: “It was excellent to have Kitty Petra at Seawork. We had hundreds of people on board, some of whom were key decision makers. We are already looking forward to 2015.”
By Jake Frith
