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Ctruk News

03 Sep 2015

CTruk Delivers Wind Farm Support Vessel

Photo: CTruk

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…

17 Aug 2015

New PLA Catamaran Hull Completed

The first of the hulls of the PLA’s new survey vessel is removed from the mould at CTruk’s Essex yard (Photo: CTruk)

The hull structures for the Port of London Authority’s (PLA) new 17-meter survey catamaran have been completed by shipbuilder CTruk. The two composite hulls were removed from the mold after several weeks of lay-up work and are now undergoing first stage fit out with fuel tank and ballast tank bulkheads at the builder’s River Colne facility in Colchester, while the deck is molded at its Brightlingsea facility. The next stage will see the deck fitted to the hulls before the wheelhouse is added.

21 Jul 2015

Flexible Pod System Key to WFSV Versatility

Photo: CTruk

workboatd designer and builder CTruk cites versatility as a key factor in Offshore Turbine Services’ (OTS) acquisition of seven 18.5-meter wind farm support vessels (WFSV) over the past three years. OTS has worked its CTruk fleet all around the U.K. and into Europe on various wind farm projects and one of the key aspects of its busy employment has been the versatility provided by the flexible deck pod system that enables the boat to be reconfigured in a matter of hours to carry out a variety of roles.

13 Jul 2015

High Workboat Demand Benefits Militaries -CTruk CEO

CTruk’s military demonstrator Thor, based on technology used to build offshore wind farm vessels (Photo: CTruk)

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…

18 Jun 2015

CTruk Delivers First Colchester-built Workboat

CWind Artimus, the latest 22m catamaran WFSV from CTruk (Photo: CTruk)

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…

29 May 2015

Design & Operation: Wind Farm Support Vessels

Pictured is Alicat, South Boats IOW 26m Wind Farm Support Vessel operated by Seacat Services.

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.

27 May 2015

New Launches, Demonstrations Set for Seawork

Europe’s commercial marine and workboat exhibition held in a working port, Seawork International, has released its plans for demonstrations, launches and conferences. Organizers say Voith will announce a new marine propulsion system that produces more thrust, reduces noise and vibration, while cutting operating costs. The Smart Surfaces’ Duplex fouling from Tudor Streamline Surfaces will debut at Seawork, which is expected to attract considerable interest from commercial boat operators having been initially developed by the U.S.

20 Apr 2015

CWind Orders More Composite Workboats

Photo courtesy of CTruk

CTruk has won an order for two more of its 22m multi-purpose catamaran Wind Farm Service Vessels (WFSVs). Both will be delivered to offshore wind service supplier CWind this summer as the first-of-class CWind Sword continues to impress on the EnBW Baltic 2 Offshore Wind Farm in Germany. Peter Jorgensen, CWind managing director, commented on CWind Sword’s performance: “CTruk’s 22m WFSV has proven to be a valuable addition to the CWind fleet, particularly from a passenger comfort perspective.

09 Mar 2015

CTruk Floats 26m Semi-SWATH Design

CTruk Semi-SWATH26 Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) concept render (Image courtesy of CTruk)

CTruk is offering a 26m Semi-SWATH vessel in collaboration with BMT Nigel Gee for the European offshore wind industry. The company plans to build this hull form in advanced composite, giving the enhanced seakeeping benefits of SWATH technology and the load-carrying capacity of a catamaran alongside increased power and speed gained from weight-saving composite. According to the builder, the 26.3m semi-SWATH design offers improvements in motion levels over conventional vessels and…

09 Mar 2015

CTruk OWSV Enhanced with Volvo IPS

CTruk 22m multipurpose catamaran (Photo courtesy of CTruk)

Since the launch of its first-of-class CTruk MPC22 late last year, the East Anglia-based workboat designer and builder informs it has incorporated performance feedback into future builds to deliver a range of enhancements. The second CTruk MPC22, due for delivery in June, will feature the Volvo IPS system for increased bollard pull and service speeds, also increasing the fuel efficiency of CTruk’s lighter weight composite catamarans. The 22-meter multipurpose catamaran with 7.5-meter beam and 1.25-meter draft is constructed from advanced composite for weight-saving strength.

12 Feb 2015

Shipbuilder CTruk Awarded Round 6 RGF Grant

   An artist rendering of the completed Advanced Composite Technology Centre (Photo courtesy of CTruk)

Essex-based shipbuilder CTruk received a £1 million ($1.5 million) grant for the construction of an Advanced Composite Technology Centre from the UK Government's Regional Growth Fund, the office of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced today. The funding from the successful Round 6 bid will catalyze £7.3 million ($11.2 million) in private investment for the facility, which will allow the company to build workboats for offshore wind farm operations, CTruk announced in a press release.

30 Jan 2015

New Survey Vessel Ordered for the Port of London

Image courtesy of CTruk

The Port of London Authority (PLA) has ordered a new purpose-built survey catamaran, a CTruk MPC19, due to enter service on the river Thames later this year. The vessel is will replace the PLA’s Yantlet vessel as she reaches the end of her service life, continuing the PLA Hydrography team’s survey work which facilitates safe navigation on the tidal Thames. As the U.K.’s busiest inland waterway, the river is a link for trade, travel and leisure and as home to the U.K.’s second largest port.

12 Dec 2014

CTruk Unveils Expansion Plans

Photo: CTruk

CTruk held an informal launch event at its new Colne Estuary site on The Hythe, East Colchester yesterday, sharing its plans for expansion to guests and staff. The company will use the old Fieldgates site on Haven Road to build the larger vessels required for offshore wind farm projects further out to sea and will move some production activity over in January 2015. CTruk’s current facility in Brightlingsea lacks the space and waterside access needed to build and launch larger craft.

05 Nov 2014

CTruk Sets Plans for Expansion

Image courtesy of CTruk

CTruk signed the lease on a 6,400m² site on the Colne Estuary, a few miles upriver from its current Brightlingsea base. The company plans to use the Fieldgates site in Haven Road, The Hythe, East Colchester to build the larger vessels required for offshore wind farm projects further out to sea. CTruk is pressing on with refurbishment of the existing building on Fieldgates to move some production activity over early next year. However, the company has further plans to build a new production facility, offices and training center on the currently derelict site.

28 Aug 2014

CWind Launches New Vessel

CWind Fulmar

CWind, a provider of integrated services to the offshore wind industry, has launched its new vessel CWind Fulmar in a naming ceremony in Brightlingsea. The CWind Fulmar, built by CTruk Ltd. at its Brightlingsea boatyard, is due to join three other CWind vessels on a three-year O&M contract at West of Duddon Sands. The vessel, the third SWATH 20 built by CTruk, boasts mixed-flow stainless-steel Rolls-Royce waterjets for a targeted 25% increased bollard pull. Coupled with the RR…

11 Jun 2014

CTruk Names Latest Vessel at Seawork

Photo courtesy of CTruk

The latest offshore wind support vessel to leave the CTruk production line in Essex made straight for Southampton and is currently on show at berth V25 at annual commercial marine exhibition and forum, Seawork. Ocean Warrior, a brand new 18.5m advanced composite twin-hull CTruk 20T MPC was officially named during an informal ceremony at the event yesterday. Ocean Warrior is the second CTruk 20T MPC for owner Scott Wharton of Ocean Transit Services. He signed the agreement for his first workboat…

11 Jun 2014

CWind in Ex-Royal Marines Boat-Share Deal

left to right: Bruce Clements, CWind; Lee Price, Matthew Lane, Matt Woodley

Offshore wind solutions provider CWind’s successful boat share scheme has to date attracted investment from different groups within the maritime community, with commercial fishermen and superyacht skippers among current partners. Now, a group of three ex-Royal Marines is set to invest, in partnership with CWind, in the next generation of offshore wind support vessel (OWSV) design, the CTruk EVOC22. Matthew Lane, Lee Price and Matt Woodley share a collective 35 years’ service in the Royal Marine Corps.

29 May 2014

McIntosh Named CTruk Chairman

Peter McIntosh

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…

01 May 2014

Two More CTruk Workboats For OTS

CTruk 20T MPC 'Lieutenant P'

OTS took delivery of its sixth CTruk 20T MPC vessel, with its seventh coming by the end of May. Pontrilas-based Offshore Turbine Services (OTS) offers crew, fuel, cargo and equipment transfer services to offshore wind turbines, sub stations and other offshore developments requiring maritime logistics. Speed, flexibility, minimum vessel downtime and cost-effectiveness are the company’s main focus points, and according to CTRUK, OTS’ decision to operate its multi-role composite catamaran workboats has proven key in delivering these.

02 Apr 2014

New CTruk Design Targets Work Farther Offshore

Photo: CTruk

While debate continues about the most efficient way to serve offshore wind installations farther out to sea, CTruk has been quietly forging ahead with a new OWSV designed to safely deal with rougher seas, longer transits and tougher assignments without neglecting the comfort of passengers and crew, the company said. Based on a proven workboat design concept, the CTruk EVOC22 is a 22m composite twin-hull with 7.5m beam and 1.25m draft. This workboat will have a 20-metric-ton flexible payload capability and the ability to carry 24…

10 Dec 2013

Study Helps Advance Hybrid Electric SWATH Design

CTruk's first SWATH OWSV built in 2013 (CWind Astute)

A feasibility study around a hybrid powertrain SWATH, commissioned this year by CTruk, has given the company further impetus in its ongoing development of a hybrid electric offshore wind support vessel design. The study was based on the CTruk CWhisper SWATH, a 20m craft fitted with twin Cummins QSM-11 marine diesel engines and Rolls-Royce Kamewa FF41 waterjets. The feasibility report concluded that the implementation of a parallel hybrid solution would result in substantial operational cost savings on this particular vessel…

04 Feb 2014

CTruk's Latest OWSV Completes Sea Trials

SC Falcon

Experience gained from four years in the offshore wind support vessel market is paying off for CTruk as it prepares to deliver SC Falcon, the company’s latest OWSV and the second CTruk 20T MPC for Sima Charters of Holland. Sea trials for the striking blue and yellow-liveried cat, the first CTruk workboat with Volvo IPS propulsion, have produced some impressive statistics. With a 25 knot cruising speed and top speed of over 30 knots, SC Falcon has satisfied Sima Charters’ Taco Davids that she is more than up to the job.

13 Mar 2014

CTruk Launches First Volvo Penta IPS Workboat

SC Falcon (Photo: Volvo Penta)

CTruk, a British boat builder specializing in high-speed composite marine craft, including catamaran workboats and wind farm support vessels, has delivered its first workboat equipped with Volvo Penta IPS (Inboard Propulsion System) to Sima Charters of Holland. With its propulsion technology, including a joystick control for safe and easy docking, Volvo Penta IPS is suited for many marine commercial applications, as demonstrated by the SC Falcon CTruk 20T MPC offshore wind vehicle.