Ed Dudson News

Three new Incat Crowther-designed fast ferries have been delivered to serve the residents of Germany’s North Sea Island communities, who are set to receive a new commuter ferry service to the mainland.The new ferries will service three busy routes between the North Frisian Islands and Neuharlingersiel, located on the north coast of Germany’s mainland.The three vessels, named WattnExpress, Inselexpress I and Watt Sprinter, have been constructed by Singapore-based Penguin Shipyard International.According to Incat Crowther…

The first 32m parallel hybrid crew transfer vessel (CTV) designed by Incat Crowther for Emden-based EMS Maritime Offshore (EMO) has been delivered, with the vessel already servicing Germany’s offshore wind industry.According to Incat Crowther, WINDEA ONE is the world's first CTV to utilize Volvo Penta’s new parallel hybrid system together with IPS propulsion and can be operated in an all-electric mode for up to six hours.Built by Singapore's Penguin Shipyard International, under the designation WindFlex-32, WINDEA ONE is based on Incat Crowther’s proven 32-metre CTV model.

Incat Crowther has won the contract for a pair of hybrid catamaran crew transfer vessels, designed together with Danish offshore crew transfer company MHO-Co. Once delivered, the vessels will service an Ørsted wind farm in the North Sea.The Incat Crowther 35s will use modern electric motors to save on weight, space, and emissions for the benefit of the environment as well as fuel economy in the offshore wind industry, Incat Crowther said.The vessels will use a combination of direct drive and electric propulsion for maximum flexibility and significant redundancy, the company said.

A UK shipbuilder known for building high-speed ferries aims to enter the offshore wind market with a new line of wind farm support vessels (WFSV).Wight Shipyard Co (WSC) said its Vortisea brand of vessels, designed in collaboration with Australian naval architect Incat Crowther, is specifically geared toward European and UK wind farms, particularly those further offshore.“It’s fitting that being so well established in the fast ferry sector we have chosen to enter the WFSV market. There is still a niche to be filled.

Incat Crowther has appointed Ed Dudson as Managing Director of its UK business and as a board member contributing to overall business direction. With more than twenty five years of experience in the design and construction of high performance vessels including fast ferries, wind farm vessels, offshore vessels and patrol boats, Ed’s capability, reputation and integrity are a natural addition to the Incat Crowther brand. Incat Crowther has design offices in Australia, USA and the UK, each capable of responding to client’s needs within the context of the regional market. With a large portfolio of vessels delivered and market-leading technology, Incat Crowther is able to offer proven designs in tight timescales. At this time Incat Crowther has more the 500 vessels in operation globally.

Naval architecture and marine engineering design consultancy BMT Nigel Gee said it has secured a project through an international tender process to design two 70-meter aluminum-hull catamaran RoPax ferries for Rederij Doeksen. BMT will be responsible for concept through to production design, and the exterior and interior styling will be performed by Vripack. Both vessels, which will be built in Vung Tau, Vietnam by Triyard Holdings subsidiary Strategic Marine, and will serve the Friesland Islands connecting Harlingen…

BMT Nigel Gee Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has announced that windfarm support vessel Trearddur Bay, its latest design for Turbine Transfers,  has successfully completed sea trials in the Solent, achieving 31 knots with 8 metric tons DWT. With sea trials completed Trearddur Bay has immediately started work for Dong Energy. Built by Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) on the Isle of Wight, Trearddur Bay was launched in December 2014. The vessel is 21m long with a beam of 7.0m and utilises BMT’s well proven catamaran hull form.

A trio of 38-metre Flex Ferries, built by Singapore’s Penguin Shipyard International and designed by Southampton-based BMT Nigel Gee, have been delivered to their new owner, Horizon Ferries, following successful sea trials in Singapore. The BV-classed, Singapore-flagged monohull ferries – christened “Horizon 7”, “Horizon 8” and “Horizon 9” - are among only a handful of fully compliant high-speed “2000 HSC Code” monohull ferries to be designed and built in recent years. The vessels recently commenced operations between Singapore and the Indonesian island of Batam, a ferry route that is generally regarded as the most competitive in Southeast Asia.

BMT Nigel Gee Ltd. announced that it has won a design for the construction of up to eight advanced 26m Windfarm Support Vessels (WSV), to be built by the Australian shipbuilder, Strategic Marine. The vessels are to be built for Njord Offshore Ltd. who has already taken delivery of eight BMT designed 21m WSVs, also built by Strategic Marine. Developed from BMT’s range of WSVs with Njord Offshore, the vessels will be 26m in length with a beam of 9.1m, powered by four Scania DI16 070 diesel engines, driving Servogear controllable pitch propellers (CPP) through a combining gearbox.

BMT Group subsidiary, BMT Nigel Gee, contracted to design two 25-metre Fast Crew Boats for Penguin International Ltd. Penguin Shipyard International, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based crewboat builder and operator, Penguin International Limited. Penguin is building the two BV classed, 70-passenger Fast Crew Boats for ARCO Marine and Oilfield Services for deployment in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas industry. Delivery of the vessels is expected in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Australian shipbuilder Strategic Marine delivers first of 8 Wind Farm Support Vessels (WSV) from its Singapore shipyard. The 21 metre multipurpose vessel was built at the company's recently expanded Singapore shipyard for Madliena Shipping (Jersey) Ltd and will be managed by Njord Offshore Limited, a subsidiary of Norse Management UK, to be employed in wind farm crew transfer and support in European waters. The offshore wind farm crew transfer and support vessels are among the most sophisticated in the market, built to DNV Class Rules - +IAI HSLC R2 Wind Farm Service 1.

Three new Windfamrm Support Vessels (WSV) built to BMT Nigel Gee designs launched in 10 days from three different shipyards. The vessels range from a 19.4m propeller driven conventional catamaran design to a 26m Extreme Semi-Swath (XSS), fitted with active motion damping systems consisting of T-Foils and interceptors. Sea trials for two of the vessels have been completed, both of which have met all expected performance criteria. The XSS is currently in transit to the open sea in order for trials to commence in the coming weeks.

BMT Nigel Gee's first 26m XSS Windfarm Support for Turbine Transfers launched at the Sepers B.V shipyard in Holland. The XSS (Extreme Semi-SWATH) offers significant improvements in motion levels over conventional platforms and is on target for delivery to Turbine Transfers later this year in time to demonstrate its capabilities in the rougher autumn and winter weather. This boat is intended to enable improved availability throughout the year providing O&M operations when they are most needed.

Australian shipbuilder Strategic Marine has started 2012 strongly, signing contracts to build eight 20 metre offshore wind farm crew transfer vessels (including options) for the European market. The company will also be establishing a Service Network in Europe to support the vessels it will be supplying to clients in the region. The vessels will be managed by Njord Offshore, a subsidiary of Norse Management UK, which has a long history in the marine industry. Strategic Marine's Chief Marketing Officer…

BMT Nigel Gee Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, the leading international maritime design, engineering and risk management consultancy, has enjoyed double success at the 2011 Seawork International Innovations Showcase. The Turbine Access System (TAS), developed in conjunction with marine engineers Houlder, has won both the Marine Renewables Category and overall Spirit of Innovation award. The lightweight motion compensated gangway provides safe and reliable access from workboats onto turbine structures. The TAS enhances safety as well as increasing wave height capability, by utilising a damped roller system which allows the vessel a degree of vertical movement at the foundation and executes crew transfer via a lightweight, motion compensated gangway.