Wind Farm Support Vessels Launched by Damen
Two twin axe Damen FCS 2610 catamarans launched at Damen’s newbuilding yard in Singapore for later delivery to SeaZip Offshore Service
Both vessels will be completed in the coming weeks after which they will be transported to the Damen yard in Gorinchem, The Netherlands where they will be delivered to SeaZip Offshore Service in September 2012.
The Damen FCS 2610 Catamaran type was successfully introduced to the market one year ago; now four vessels are trading in the North Sea/German Bight area dealing with the most challenging circumstances day in, day out.
The Damen Axe-bow gives the design not only an above average (and maintainable) service speed of 22 knots but also in much better sea keeping characteristics. It has proved both safe and workable to transfer personnel up to significant wave heights of 2,4 m.
SeaZip Offshore Service was founded in 2010 by the shipping entrepreneurs J.R. Arends and S. D. Schakelaar to respond to demand from the rapidly expanding European wind energy market. The company focuses on the development and operation of specialized service vessels, mainly for the transfer of personnel and goods to and from offshore wind farms.
According to SeaZip’s own market research, some 130 offshore wind service vessels are available to the market today and some 30 vessels are on firm order. Knowing that the offshore wind market is bound to grow about 30% annually, it may come as no surprise that the (upcoming) available fleet of service vessels is totally insufficient to meet market demand. It is the offshore wind industry’s own prediction that some 250 new service/crew vessels are needed if the industry is to meet its 2020 objectives.
