Keeping it quiet on the Seawork pontoon
The demand for rapid crew transportation to and from wind farms, combined with the increasing distances between the wind farm arrays and the shore has resulted in the design and build of larger and faster crew transfer vessels and workboats.
With work boat catamarans now averaging 16m to 20m LOA and sometimes up to 28m, cruising speeds can be as much as 25 to 30 knots, and with the boats operating on 24/7 schedules, reliability is paramount.
Seawork exhibitor and marine exhaust specialist Halyard says this trend for large, fast and highly utilised vessels has resulted in the company developing robust exhaust systems. These are designed not only to withstand the engine’s extreme working conditions, but also to reduce noise and vibration on board, helping to ensure crew and passenger comfort.
A recent example is South Boats Special Projects offshore wind farm crew transfer vessel Iceni Pride. This South Catamaran 14m Rapid Response Vessel is being used by Iceni Marine Services for Scottish and Southern Energy on the Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm project.
Halyard was commissioned by South Boats Special Projects to design, manufacture and install the exhaust system for the twin Caterpillar C9 ACERT 510hp diesel engines, and Hamilton HJ364 water jet units. The system not only ensures the vessel can maintain its cruising speeds of 25 knots fully laden, but also the frequently used sprint speeds of more than 30 knots. The system also reduces through hull and engine noise, as well as vibration on board. This is particularly significant as Iceni Pride will be used for VIP transportation, as well as for standard crew transfer duties.
Hugh Cunningham of Halyard said, “We were commissioned by South Boat Special Projects to design a bespoke exhaust system in order to drastically reduce all sound and internal reverberation from engine to transom, known to cause sea sickness and discomfort for those working long hours onboard.
“Halyard provided exhaust systems for each of the vessel’s Caterpillar C9 diesel engines, using specialist stainless steel risers and GRP silencers, to eject cooling water and exhaust gases, whilst silencing the engine’s combustion noise.”
Ben Colman of South Boats added, “Halyard’s marine exhaust systems are integral in ensuring that these rapid response vessels perform at speed, for extended periods of time, but that they also offer the highest levels of crew comfort by minimising engine noise and vibration.”
Technical specification: Iceni Pride
Length: 14m
Beam: 5m
Depth: 1m
Power: 2 caterpillar C9, 510 hp each
Propulsion: Hamilton HJ364 waterjets
Speed (sprint): 30 knots
