Tom Mehew News

The offshore energy boom: more than wind. Domestic offshore wind also promises to generate demand for new, efficiently propelled support vessels. The U.S. offshore wind farm industry, now in its infancy, is on the verge of a massive growth surge, and the boom will be felt throughout the American maritime industry. The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy reported last year that there is a “robust pipeline of projects to ensure growth in the country’s nascent offshore wind market…

Volvo Penta has emerged as a leading supplier of propulsion systems for support boats in the booming offshore wind farm industry in Europe, and is poised to capture a significant position as new wind farms come into service in North America. “Wind farm support vessels operate under some of the world’s most difficult conditions,” said Jens Bering, vice president of marine sales for Volvo Penta of the Americas. “They must be able to work 24/7 in high winds and heavy seas delivering crew and materials quickly and safely to the offshore towers without wasting time and fuel.

Njord Offshore’s two latest 26m offshore crew vessels (24 pax), equipped with Volvo Penta’s IPS900 Quad drives, are now ready for heavy-duty use in the North Sea. After a year operating four new 26m crew transfer vessels (CTVs) fitted with Volvo Penta’s IPS900 Quad drives, Njord Offshore – which transports crew to and from offshore wind farms – has added another two new 24 pax vessels with the same propulsion system to its fleet. The U.K. company now has 15 CTVs of 21m and 26m in its fleet…

Volvo Penta’s IPS drive system celebrated a decade in production this year — coinciding with the inaugural launch of the Volvo Penta IPS quad commercial installation in four Njord Offshore crew transfer catamarans. Njord Odin is the newest vessel to join Njord Offshore’s existing fleet. The catamaran contains a quadruple installation Volvo Penta IPS900 complete propulsion system. A lot can happen in 10 years. A decade ago Volvo Penta introduced its Inboard Performance System (IPS), changing the face of the leisure and commercial marine industries.

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.

Strategic Marine, a specialist shipbuilder in Asia, today announced that Njord Offshore, U.K. fleet operator of Crew Transfer Vessels for the growing European offshore windfarm sector, has officially confirmed the option for two more high performance crew transfer and service vessels, taking the total order to eight vessels. So far, Strategic has delivered six vessels to Njord Offshore. The first, Njord Advocet, completed her maiden charter on the Greater Gabbard Windfarm for SSE and will join her sister Vessels off the European Mainland off Germany. The Njord Kittiwake is now working off Denmark and the Njord Curlew and Lapwing off Germany. The Njord Puffin and Petrel were delivered last month at Strategic’s shipyard in Singapore and have just arrived in Europe.

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…