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South Boats News

03 Mar 2022

Waterjets For CTVs: Debunking The Myths

WAVECRAFT by Umoe Mandal is a wind farm fast crew transfer vessel featuring dual MJP 650 CSU waterjets. (Photo: Marine Jet Power)

With more wind farms sprouting up in Europe, Asia and now here in the United States, a steady stream of crew transfer vessels (CTV) will be needed to support their construction, maintenance and operation. Typically aluminum catamarans, these vessels are deployed to ferry personnel and light equipment to and from offshore wind farms on a daily basis.While a solid portion of CTVs in the established European offshore wind market are propelled by waterjets, Adam Mills, sales director at Marine Jet Power…

14 Sep 2020

Pioneer Crew Transfer Vessels: Designing the US Fleet

Atlantic Wind Transfer’s newest CTVs have been designed by Chartwell Marine. (Image: Chartwell Marie)

Europe has been the clear leader in offshore wind power since the world’s first offshore wind farm was built off the coast of Denmark in 1991. Now, as regions in Asia and North America set out to harness the huge energy potential gusting off their shores, local firms are drawing from the expertise laid out in the well-established European industry as they build the foundations for new offshore wind markets of their own.It’s no surprise, then, that designs for offshore wind support vessels currently being built in the U.S. come from the other side of the Atlantic.

12 Dec 2019

BOATBUILDING: From Estonia with Love

The view from the wheelhouse of Baltic Workboats pilot boat. Baltic Workboats has entered the US domestic boatbuilding game with this new entry. CREDIT: Baltic Workboats

Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, the classic Maine boat designer and builder will build to Baltic Workboats design for the domestic workboat market.Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, the classic Maine boat designer and builder will announce at this year’s International WorkBoat Show that it has entered into the domestic workboat market as the Jones Act builder for the Estonian, Baltic Workboats wave piercing pilot boat, currently popular with Danish and Belgian pilots.How do you feel about taking on something as unusual as building a pilot boat designed and built in Estonia…

27 Mar 2019

Arctic (& Wind) Operations: Hands Across the Water

Renderings of the proposed Aeolus wind support fleet

As the North American offshore wind model evolves, it is clear that fit-for-purpose, Jones Act compliant and Arctic ready tonnage will need to be part of the equation. If so, we’ve got that box checked, with a little help from Europe.As of September 2018, the Walney Extension off the United Kingdom is the largest offshore wind farm in the world at 659 megawatts. There are at least 70 major wind farms, each with hundreds of wind turbines, each generating as much as 10 megawatts in offshore England, the North Sea, Russia and China.

20 Nov 2018

Designing for the Winds of Change

The advent of U.S. offshore wind also brings the need for the quality and quantity of built-for-purpose vessels needed to sustain its momentum.As the long-awaited advent of offshore wind finally arrives on this side of the big pond, one question which continues to dominate the conversation is where (and when) the fit-for-purpose tonnage necessary for this great leap forward will come from. Just as important, stakeholders need to have confidence in the availability of proven vessel concepts, as they continue to explore opportunities and justify investment decisions in the growing sector.First Out of the GateRhode Island-based shipyard Blount Boats, in June, announced that it had signed a sublicense agreement with Marine Applied Physics Corp.

06 Jun 2018

Blount, MAPC Ink Deal for Building South Boats’ CTV Designs

A 26-meter South Boats design (Image courtesy Blount Boats)

Rhode Island shipyard Blount Boats, Inc. said it has signed a sublicense agreement with Marine Applied Physics Corp. (MAPC) of Baltimore, Md., for the building of crew transfer vessels (CTV) designed by U.K. builder South Boats.South Boats has designed and built approximately 30 percent of the wind farm crew transfer vessels operating on European windfarms, and Blount Boats has held the U.S. license for the firm’s designs since 2011.In 2016, Blount delivered a South Boats 21-meter transfer vessel, Atlantic Pioneer, to Rhode Island Fast Ferry. The vessel is the first U.S.

02 May 2017

Seacat Services Launches Two Vessels

Seacat Courageous (Photo: Seacat Services)

Offshore energy support vessel (OESV) operator Seacat Services has completed its latest investment in its fleet, launching two vessels with the capacity for 24 industrial personnel – the newly-accepted Seacat Enterprise, and the upgraded Seacat Courageous. These boats are among the first wave of offshore energy support vessels to be certified under the new HS-OSC (High Speed – Offshore Service Craft) code, which now allows vessels under 500 metric tons to carry up to 60 industrial personnel.

10 Jan 2017

Seacat Set for Offshore Wind Rush

9th January 2017, Isle of Wight – Class-leading offshore energy service vessel (OESV) operator, Seacat Services, has invested heavily in its operational team and logistical support infrastructure, based on the Isle of Wight. Ahead of the major offshore wind construction phase beginning in April this year, the business has moved into a new purpose-designed headquarters in Cowes and continued to strengthen its support team. The investment represents a further commitment to supporting local industry on the Isle of Wight, in conjunction with successful regional training initiatives and an ongoing, highly productive six-year relationship with local boat builder South Boats IoW.

28 Dec 2016

Innovative Boats: Marine News' Best of 2016

Image: Vard Marine

Marine News looks back at the past 12 months and showcases the best of North America’s workboat design shop and shipyard output. In a year where some stakeholders might not rank 2016 as the best of years in the shipyard or on the waterfront, we might disagree. And, there is plenty to write about. New contracts, deliveries and designs all combine to show that the collective workboat waterfront is moving forward, with technology, the environment and replacement tonnage requirements as the main drivers.

14 Nov 2016

Seacat Services Launches High Speed Utility Vessel

Photo: Seacat Services

Offshore energy support vessel operator, Seacat Services, is preparing to launch its first High Speed Utility Vessel (HSUV), Seacat Enterprise. The 27m South Boats IoW catamaran is a new category of vessel for the offshore wind market, designed to provide both rapid crew transfer and wide-ranging logistical support for extended periods at sea. In the maturing European offshore wind sector, the expectations of developers, contractors and project operators with respect to the capabilities of support vessel fleets are becoming increasingly defined.

05 Oct 2016

US Offshore Wind Comes to Life

(Photo: Robert Kunkel)

Marine News contributor Robert Kunkel asks: Are we ready to support the farms? On August 19, 2016, we watched as the fifth tower and associated nacelle was raised on the Deepwater Offshore Wind Farm approximately 3 miles offshore of Block Island, Rhode Island. This is the first Offshore Wind farm erected in the United States and, without a doubt, a huge step forward for this controversial project and alternative energy supply. The Block Island Wind Farm has a total generating capacity of 30 megawatts and is projected to produce approximately 125,000 megawatt hours annually.

18 Aug 2016

MN100: Blount Boats, Inc.

Marcia Blount (Photo: Blount Boats)

Over time, the Blount shipyard has built more than 365 vessels. Today, Blount Boats’ clients include Fire Island Ferries, Casco Bay Island Transit District, Puerto Rico and Municipal Islands Maritime Authority, Spirit Cruises, Circle Line Statue of Liberty (Hornblower), South Ferry on Shelter Island, Long Island, and the Kwajalein Army Base on the Marshall Islands. Blount has been building high quality, innovative shallow draft designs for 66 years. Blount’s designs have created…

22 Apr 2016

Atlantic Pioneer Gets to Work at Block Island

Atlantic Pioneer (Photo: Atlantic Wind Transfer)

The first US-built and operated offshore wind farm crew transfer vessel will be named at an official christening ceremony in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Following the Christening the ‘Atlantic Pioneer’, owned and operated by Atlantic Wind Transfers, the commercial wind support services arm of Rhode Island Fast Ferry, will embark on the first phase of a 20-year charter to support the construction and operation of the Block Island offshore wind farm. The Block Island site, currently under construction by developer Deepwater Wind off the coast of Rhode Island…

21 Apr 2016

IMTRA Outfits US’ First Wind Farm Vessel

Atlantic Pioneer (Photo: Blount Boats)

IMTRA, a manufacturer and importer of commercial marine products, has delivered equipment to the first U.S.-flagged offshore wind farm crew transfer vessel (CTV), Atlantic Pioneer. IMTRA’s scope of supply includes the Colorlight CL20 high-output searchlight, Decca Straight Line wiper system and LED deck, interior and engine room lights for the Blount Boats-built, 69-foot CTV. The vessel was locally built in Rhode Island and has been delivered to its operator, Atlantic Wind Transfers which is based in Quonset Point, R.I.

13 Apr 2016

First US-flagged Wind Farm Vessel Delivered

Photo: Blount Boats

Blount Boats has delivered the Atlantic Pioneer, America’s first U.S.-flagged Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) for Atlantic Wind Transfers that will begin service for Deep Water Wind Block Island at the end of May. The 21-meter aluminum vessel was designed by South Boats IOW (Isle of Wight), who has designed and built approximately 81 crew transfer vessels for the European Offshore Wind Sector servicing wind farms throughout Europe. In 2011 Blount Boats signed an exclusive licensing agreement with South Boats covering the U.S. offshore wind industry.

03 Dec 2015

Seacat Services Adds 23m Catamaran

Offshore energy crew transfer vessel operator, Seacat Services, has added a new 23m vessel to its fleet. The South Boats IoW built catamaran, named Seacat Mischief, joined the fleet in late November, and is currently being readied for deployment. As the European offshore wind market focuses on the three increasingly distinct areas of deeper water construction, expansion in new markets and existing operations and maintenance activity, vessel operators have to think carefully about their fleet capabilities. Seacat Services’ new 23m vessels, in conjunction with its 21m, 24m and 26m catamarans - and soon to be built 27m boats - can provide a host of different solutions to meet these changing demands.

17 Nov 2015

Seacat Services Invests In New Vessels

Offshore energy support vessel operator Seacat Services has placed an order for up to four new vessels with local boat builder South Boats IoW. The DNV-GL class-certified next generation 23- and 27-meter catamarans have been specifically designed to cater for the changing needs of European offshore projects. As the offshore wind industry matures, the expectations of developers and operators regarding energy support vessel availability, reliability and passenger comfort, are continuing to grow. In established markets, such as the U.K. and Germany, larger, deepwater projects are commencing construction, and the latest 27-meter vessel, Seacat Enterprise, will provide a new platform with which to serve these projects.

17 Sep 2015

Hybrid Marine Power & Propulsion Conference: Program Announced

The Hybrid Marine Power & Propulsion Conference being held at the RNLI College in Poole, U.K., October 6-8, will bring together an international group of experts armed with the latest knowledge that will assist the sub IMO professional sector to understand the possibilities of utilizing hybrid systems. The aim is to identify the potential for hybrid systems for specific sectors, including diesel / electric / battery for workboats, pilot boats, survey vessels, wind farm support vessels, superyacht tenders, patrol craft, military and unmanned craft.

26 Jun 2015

UK Seeks Maritime Dominance of Yore

“Britannia rules the waves” paid a glowing tribute to the maritime past of the United Kingdom. Over the past three centuries as the sun began to set on the British power, resilient U.K. with its pioneering characteristics began its voyage of transformation to become a world-class maritime services center, with one of the largest clusters of marine insurance, ship finance, law, classification societies, ship broking, education and consultancy organizations. Significantly, two factors were responsible for this change. The first being marine transport, since it was the only point of access to the British Isles, and the second was the maritime trade and naval power that have had a great impact on the maritime sector influencing the country’s economy for several centuries.

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.

20 May 2015

US Builder Secures Wind Farm Supply Vessel Order

Photo: Blount Boats

Rhode Island based shipbuilder Blount Boats signed a contract with Rhode Island Fast Ferry for the construction of a crew transfer vessel (CTV) that will operate for Deepwater Wind Block Island, the shipbuilder announced today. The 21-meter aluminum vessel was designed by South Boats IOW (Isle of Wight), a company that has designed and built approximately 85 CTVs for the European Offshore Wind Sector. In 2011, Blount Boats signed a licensing agreement with South Boats to become the exclusive shipyard to manufacture U.S. Flagged aluminum catamarans of South Boats IOW designs for the U.S.

21 Feb 2015

Seacat Services launches Second 26m Catamaran

Class-leading offshore energy crew transfer vessel operator Seacat Services today launches Seacat Courageous, the firm’s second 26-metre crew transfer vessel, as it continues to support the growth of the European offshore wind market. The expectations of offshore wind developers and operators when it comes to crew transfer vessel availability, reliability and passenger comfort are continuing to increase as the industry matures. Concurrently, construction is commencing on large, deep-water project sites further from shore that demand high levels of seakeeping performance and greater capacity for both fuel and equipment. Seacat Courageous…

06 Nov 2014

Seacat Debuts First Tank-tested Catamaran

Photo courtesy of Seacat Services

Following the completion of preliminary sea trials, offshore energy support vessel operator Seacat Services unveiled the British-built Seacat Intrepid, the first DNV GL certified 26-meter crew transfer vessel to benefit from a unique three-year offshore wind farm workboat tank testing research and development program that capitalized on an improved understanding of wind, wave and weather conditions within European waters. Seacat Intrepid boasts a fuel capacity of 26,000 liters…