Offshore staff
SOUTHAMPTON, UK — Edison Chouest Offshore’s (ECO) Louisiana shipyard has started constructing what is said to be the US offshore wind sector’s first mini-crew transfer vessel (CTV).
The 12-m-long vessel, designed by Chartwell Marine and capable of transporting up to 12 personnel, is due to start operating next summer for Ørsted and its US-based joint venture partner, Eversource Energy.
It will accompany the launch of ECO Edison, the first American-built service operation vessel (SOV). The CTV/daughter craft onboard the SOV can be deployed to take crews across the Revolution Wind, South Fork Wind, and Sunrise Wind offshore wind farms in the northeastern US waters, all under development by the joint venture.
The CTV will incorporate various components from US suppliers.
Chartwell’s catamaran design is aimed at the increasing demand in the US offshore wind sector for low-emissions, cost-effective support vessels. Its hull form is said to provide efficient fuel use, stability and maneuverability in rough sea conditions.
The Volvo Penta propulsion system includes forward-facing, twin counter-rotating propellers with an individually steerable system under the hull.
Chartwell collaborated with Ørsted throughout the design process, performing model testing in January to simulate and adapt to the specifications of the wind turbines that will be installed at the northeast wind farms. The process included adaptions to facilitate Ørsted’s Get Up Safe system, a motion-compensated hoist solution that allows technicians to transfer between small moving vessels and offshore wind turbines without a ladder.
08.07.2023
