Crew Transfer Vessel Delivered to Swire Pacific Offshore
With its latest delivery to Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO), shipbuilder Austal Limited has delivered its second high speed crew transfer vessel this year, and its fourth offshore crew transfer vessel in the past 15 months.
The 57.6-meter, all-aluminum catamaran, named Pacific Kestrel, was designed by Incat Crowther and constructed by Austal’s shipyard in the Philippines. The 40 knot ‘Offshore Express 57’ Large Crew Transfer Vessel (LCTV) is a technologically advanced transport solution that is affordable and economical to own and operate. Capable of safely transporting 90 personnel (plus cargo) to offshore platforms up to Sea State 6 (defined as Very Rough conditions with wave heights between 4 to 6m), the vessel is an alternative to fair-weather dependent helicopters.
Replacing comparatively more expensive helicopter transfers from early 2017, the Pacific Kestrel (and similar vessels like the 70 meter Rashid Behbudov recently delivered by Austal) is transforming the global offshore crew transfer market by bringing new levels of comfort, safety, versatility and economy to offshore operations. Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the Offshore Express 57 was another great example of Austal’s shipbuilding capability.
“This latest large crew transfer vessel delivery further demonstrates Austal’s competitiveness in the international shipbuilding market. This competitiveness comes from our continued focus on reducing costs, which is achieving great outcomes for our customers and their clients,” Singleton said.
The Pacific Kestrel features an Ampelmann motion-compensated “walk-to-work” (W2W) gangway that allows for the safe transfer of personnel to offshore platforms. Aided by a DP-2 (Dynamic Positioning) control system, the vessel has built-in redundancy to successfully complete transfers in the unlikely event of an engine or bow thruster failing.
In addition to a large, 200sqm cargo deck allowing up to 100 metric tons of cargo to be transported, the vessel also has Search and Rescue capability (SAR), with an on-board Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) available for rapid deployment and a chemical dispersant adding oil-spill ‘first response’ capability.
