South Boats Delivers Workboat to Turbine Transfers

Wind farm crew transfer vessel 'Caernarfon Bay' built by UK shipbuilders South Boat Special Projects Ltd. handed over to Turbine Transfers Ltd

South Boats Special Projects Ltd. announce the launch and commissioning of its 57th offshore wind farm crew transfer vessel, ‘Caernarfon Bay’. The vessel is the first of the South Catamaran 19m WFSV designs to be delivered and features a host of developments. Built for Turbine Transfers Ltd. the vessel has passaged to a contract in the German North Sea following successful trials and acceptance.

The ‘Caernarfon Bay’ has an LOA of 21m, beam of 7.4m, draught of 1.1m and a lightship displacement of 43 tonnes. The 19m WFSV is a development of the smaller 18m and features increased fuel efficiency, higher performance, higher deck cargo including container mounts and lashing points, provision for secondary access systems and a soft mounted passenger saloon and bridge to increase passenger comfort (and reduce noise and vibration) on the longer and more arduous conditions experienced further offshore.

Powered by twin Caterpillar 10V2000M72 1200mhp diesel engines coupled to Ultra Dynamics UJ575 water jet units the vessel achieved a sprint speed of 27.8 knots and is capable of cruising at speeds in excess of 22 knots with full tanks and a full complement of 12 passengers.

One feature of the new design and a benefit of the full bow concept is only a 2 knot drop off in performance with 10 tonnes of cargo on the forward deck. The vessel has an approved stability booklet to carry up to 16 tonnes of cargo, 12 on the forward deck and 4 on the after deck.

The vessel is built under survey and certified to DNV +1A1 HSLC R2 Wind Farm Service 1 and MCA Workboat Code Category 1 for operation on any UK and European offshore wind farm.