Chevalier Floatels contracts Holland Shipyards to convert its first ship to a DP2 offshore support & accommodation vessel.
In response to the growing European market for wind energy, Chevalier Floatels has initiated the development of a new design concept for staff accommodation and transport to offshore wind farms installations.
Chevalier Floatels’ ethos is that their vessels are more than just ‘floating accommodations’. The wellbeing and comfort of the staff on board is paramount. However, there is also much focus on reducing operating costs (including fuel), environmental/social aspects and of course reliability. For this purpose, Chevalier Floatels recently purchased two ships, which will be converted and upgraded accordingly.
The first ship, to be named DP Gezina, will have Lloyd's class approval to operate as a DP2 Service Support Vessel and will also be built according to the SPS Code.
The high quality finish of the cabins and bathrooms may give people the illusion that they are on board a luxury yacht or have checked in an exclusive (land) hotel with TV, internet and game consoles in every cabin.
The propulsion plant, consisting of two 360 ° azimuthing thrusters, a retractable 360° bow thruster and a fixed bow thruster, is intended to ensure good manoeuvrability, and the propulsion plant is to be powered by a diesel-electric configuration.
A self-stabilising Ampelmann personnel transfer platform, that actively compensates all vessel motions, with a walkway will be fitted on deck, as a result, entrance platforms of windmills (or working decks of a platform) can be accessed straight from the vessel in greater safety.
At the end of April 2013 DP Gezina is scheduled to be operational and available as a staff accommodation and transport vessel for offshore maintenance and installation projects in the wind, oil and gas industry.