Andy White News

Shipbuilder CTruk Boats, a manufacturer of composite wind farm support vessels (WFSV), has delivered the second workboat in a two-craft order from CWind. The MPC22 WFSV CWind Spirit was officially named at a ceremony in Ipswich and is the latest addition to a stable of nearly 30 WFSVs built by CTruk. Like her sister vessel CWind Artimus, which was handed over in June, the latest MPC22 features a a Volvo Penta Integrated Propulsion System (IPS) that reduces fuel consumption, produces less CO2 emissions…

Lessons learned from the increase in building workboats for the offshore wind farm sector can benefit the military user, according to CTruk CEO Andy White. Developments in vessel design, construction and operation as a result of the demanding requirements of the offshore wind sector could translate to future procurement of military craft, White told the audience at a Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA) conference entitled Warships 2015: Future Surface Vessels. Because of budgetary pressures…

CTruk Boats formally handed over the first new craft built at its River Colne production facility in Colchester when the latest MPC22 offshore wind farm service vessel (WFSV) was officially named by owner CWind at the Seawork show in Southampton. Utilizing the CTruk flexible pod system that allows the vessel’s payload to be reconfigured in a matter of hours, the MPC22 is based on a proven workboat design. CWind Artimus, named by Jemma Eaton, Commercial Director of CWind, is the first of the two latest boats being built by CTruk for CWind…

Offshore wind farm development has been led globally by the UK, followed by Germany. Both countries have governments with long term commitments to renewable energy. Denmark, Belgium and The Netherlands are building wind farms, but they are a long way behind the leaders in offshore wind. In 2014 the UK accounted for over 50% of all the offshore wind energy generated globally. All of these countries border the North Sea, a notoriously stormy sea area, which has a high frequency of wind to drive the turbines. Traditional survey vessels are first to arrive in a potential wind farm area.

Composite high-speed craft designer and builder CTruk has appointed shipbuilding industry veteran Peter McIntosh OBE to succeed Andy White as chairman. McIntosh, the former executive director of VT Group PLC, holds experience of the marine and defense industries and will steer the innovative company through its next stage of growth, CTruk said. White will remain on the board as an executive director. Managing director Ben Simpson will be working closely with McIntosh on implementing…

THOR is the brain-child of CTruk’s Military and Security team, who between them have amassed approximately 200 years of military experience, skills and knowledge. Realizing that new designs must be right the first time, the company has established a Military Design Advisory Panel (MDAP), which acts as an advisory body, steering design to ensure that vessels are fit for task. The result of all this expertise, not to mention CTruk’s proven offshore support vessel designs, is THOR…

Offshore Turbine Services (OTS) has ordered two more CTruk 20T MPCs for delivery in spring 2014. The inking of this latest order comes as the company prepare to name their fifth CTruk multi-purpose cat in Brightlingsea this week, the Commodore P. CTruk explain that from the start OTS’ operations director, Nick Bright, has worked closely with CTruk on enhancing the 20T design to fit their specific requirements. With his years of experience as a commercial fisherman, there is little Nick doesn’t know about the demands made on these boats at sea on 24/7 offshore operations.

Dutch-owned Sima Charters takes delivery of the latest vessel to join its fleet, a CTruk 20T multi-purpose catamaran, 'SC Buzzard'. Sporting Sima Charters’ eye-catching yellow and blue livery, SC Buzzard is the tenth vessel to be completed at the Brightlingsea yard in two years. SC Buzzard was officially named at an informal gathering in Brightlingsea recently. She features the patent-applied flexible pod system developed by CTruk to enhance versatility as well as a large volume fuel transfer system.