SATV combines transfer and accommodation in design first

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This newly launched 36 metre Service Accommodation Transfer Vessel (SATV) has been commissioned for the Formosa 1, Offshore Wind Farm Project in Taiwan.

The SATV successfully completed an extensive sea trials program for the owners

Designers, BMT claim that the 36m SATV is the first vessel of its kind anywhere in the world. Its advanced design will offer greater operational versatility, providing long term offshore accommodation while still being able to push up against the turbine to transfer technicians. This new concept and size of vessel will be able to plug the gap, where a full size SOV (service operation vessel) would be unsuitable and too expensive.

The SATV successfully completed an extensive sea trials program for the owners (Ventus Marine) and charterers (SGRE) and has immediately commenced operations and maintenance activities on the Formosa 1 site. BMT partnered with Penguin Shipyard International for the 36m SATV, who together have delivered many vessels within different sectors of the marine industry, including High Speed Ferries, Oil and Gas crew boats, Firefighting Vessels and Crew Transfer Vessels.

Chris Witty, Technical Lead for Specialised Ship Design at BMT comments, “It’s fantastic to be a part of continually developing Offshore Renewables industry, particularly with such exciting projects like the SATV. The design brief really allowed us the freedom to devise the optimal configuration, from both a comfort and a workflow perspective.”

Seakeeping and efficiency were at the forefront of the project. To develop this unique design, BMT leveraged technologies and experience derived from the broad range of markets it serves. The hull form is based on BMT’s ModCat range which offers improved seakeeping performance, but with a minimal resistance penalty. The improved vessel motion is also complemented by a full active ride control system.

The design also boasts the third generation of BMT’s patented Active Fender System™. Through substantial investment as part of their R&D program, BMT have designed this next generation of their proven Active Fender System specifically for larger vessels like the SATV to land on wind turbine generators with a significantly reduced impact load enabling the safe transfer of service technicians onto the towers.

SATV is designed for a 12 day offshore endurance for 10 crew. As European offshore wind development moves to the more distant Round III sites, the combination provided by the SATV of fulfilling accommodation and crew transfer in one vessel could become increasingly relevant.

By Jake Frith