Offshore staff
COWES, UK – HST Marine (HST) has taken delivery of the HST Ella, a new hybrid crew transfer vessel (CTV) designed by Chartwell Marine.
The HST Ella is the first hybrid Chartwell 24 vessel to hit the water, following her completion at Isle of Wight shipyard Diverse Marine.
Tom Nevin, CEO of HST, said: “Modern crew transfer operations in offshore energy increasingly require proven vessels with a powerful presence on the water. At the same time, a future-proof fleet consists of vessels with strong green credentials as the goal of emissions reduction continues to move up the agenda.
“Rapidly maturing hybrid technology means that environmental consciousness can sit hand in hand with operational excellence, and in the HST Ella, we have a vessel that delivers both, following a consultative design process with Chartwell Marine, and a high-quality build at Diverse Marine.”
The HST Ella features transit speeds of 10 knots on electric propulsion and 30 knots on diesel, while during port operations, the vessel’s electric operation mode allows for quiet and zero emission low speed maneuverability. This is said to be enabled by the vessel’s unique hybrid propulsion system. An electric motor sits alongside a diesel engine to drive a high-performance changeable pitch propeller system, ensuring maneuverability and operational flexibility.
The system is coupled with the vessel’s advanced hull form for reduced frictional resistance, and its use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO30) as fuel – a market first for a newbuild CTV, the company claimed.
Advanced CTVs such as the HST Ella are increasingly expected to perform a range of auxiliary duties alongside personnel transport. The 26-m (85-ft) vessel can carry 24 industrial personnel alongside a maximum payload of 15 metric tons (17 tons), ensuring maximum versatility when supporting offshore wind operations.
Following its launch, the HST Ella will depart to begin its maiden contract at the East Anglia 1 wind farm, 43 km (27 mi) off the Suffolk coast in eastern England.
08/13/2021
