Alnmaritec, the specialist aluminium boat builder based in Northumberland, recently announced the delivery of the first of its new ‘Wave Captain’ class of Wind Farm Support Vessels.
The new design is a derivative of the larger Wave Master class vessels which have proved highly successful in service and features the unique high efficiency hull form developed by Alnmaritec over the last year using extensive CFD modelling and towing tank testing. Powered by twin Doosan 4V222TI 880 bhp diesel engines, coupled to ZF 2000V Gearboxes and driving twin 5 blade propellers she achieves a cruising speed of 24 knots and demonstrates exceptional sea keeping characteristics.
She has an aft twin tier deckhouse arrangement with a large foredeck with steps port and starboard leading to a raised forward bow section for personnel transfer. The wheelhouse has a passenger saloon at deck level, with seating for twelve persons, including a galley and mess area, a wet area, with WC and a shower room. Below decks she has two cabins with sleeping accommodations for two persons in each. The upper tier has seating for the helm and crew positioned forward at the main control console as well as a small galley and mess area and a survey station. Access is via stairs from the aft deck.
The substantial forward deck provides plenty of cargo space, with a Palfinger 6500MA marine hydraulic crane fitted on the port side for cargo handling. An MOB davit used for man overboard recovery is positioned on the port side bulwark of the aft working deck.
In the renewable energy sector Alnmaritec has ten years of unrivalled experience and the company has continually developed the designs of its wind farm service vessels to keep ahead of the market’s ever increasing expectations. Commenting on the new Wave Captain class, Managing Director Chris Millman said – “We have been bowled over by the feedback we have received regarding the performance of the new boat which has pleasantly surprised even us!!! We have already got orders from two other operators for four more of this class which we hope will become one of the standard models for the industry going forward”.
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Offshore WIND staff, May 28, 2012; Image: alnmaritec