CTruk scored a hat-trick with the delivery of its 12th 20T multi-purpose catamaran, CWind Challenger.
As well as being the first of these popular offshore wind support vessels to be designed, built and classed to Bureau Veritas (BV) rules, the 18.5m multi-role workboat is also the first Category 1 vessel built by the company under the MCA MGN 280(M) rules. To top off the CTruk team’s achievements, CWind Challenger is the first craft to be classed by Bureau Veritas under their Wind Farms Service Ship class notation.
CWind Challenger is part-owned by Scott Wharton of North Devon-based S&P Fish. Scott signed up to offshore wind industry service provider CWind’s boat share scheme earlier this year and the composite workboat has since joined the company’s growing charter fleet.
Scott has owned numerous fishing vessels over his 29 year career fishing the Bristol Channel and currently operates a fleet of six. Commenting on the features that drew him to CTruk’s twin-hull design Scott said, ‘These boats are durable and strong with great manoeuvrability and the fact that their lighter weight saves on fuel is a huge plus. In commercial fishing one of the biggest problems we face is the rising cost of fuel, which has a huge impact on profitability. Costs are also a major consideration for the offshore wind industry, so that was a big tick in the box for me.’
For CTruk, delivery of the first offshore wind support vessel to meet internationally recognised classification standards is a key milestone in the company’s three year history. Designed and built to Bureau Veritas (BV) | HULL • MACH Wind Farms Service Ship –S1 classification rules, CWind Challenger also meets UK flag (MCA) MGN280 requirements for Category 1.
As well as building vessels to full BV class, CTruk continues to offer standard craft built to DNV or BV letters of compliance.
Press release, October 15, 2013; Image: ctruck