The first crew transfer vessel dedicated to serve the U.S. offshore wind industry was placed into the water for the first time last week, according to social media pages of Rhode Island Fast Ferry and its subsidiary Atlantic Wind Transfers.
“On Wednesday the workboat was lowered down the railway at low tide and left to wait for the high tide to roll in and float it over to the dock. The large mast was installed the following day so now the shipyard can begin to do the final electronic connections,” the company said on Saturday, 13 February.
Blount Boats, Rhode Island’s shipyard which is building the 21m vessel, will now work on final electronics connections, finishing the interior, installing a Palfinger crane, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) lifesaving equipment.
The vessel will then begin with sea trials.
In May 2015, Rhode Island Fast Ferry signed a 20-year crew transfer contract with Deepwater Wind for its 30MW Block Island offshore wind farm, also an American first . Under the agreement, the company’s subsidiary Atlantic Wind Transfers is responsible for building the vessel and providing training to meet the project’s requirements.
The construction of the crew transfer vessel based on South Boats IOW’s design was awarded to Blount Boats, which has had a licensee from South Boats IOW since 2012.
The vessel is scheduled to commence work on the Block Island Wind Farm this spring, when the offshore construction works will continue.
After the offshore wind farm is completed and enters operations and maintenance phase, the vessel will provide O&M support throughout the 20-year lifecycle of the project.
Photos: Rhode Island Fast Ferry/ Atlantic Wind Transfers