Austal books order for three wind farm support catamarans

Austal has been awarded a contract for the design and construction of three purpose-built 21 m offshore support vessels (OSVs) for Turbine Transfers Limited, based in Holyhead, United Kingdom. Due for delivery in May 2012, the vessels will be built at Austal’s Henderson, Western Australia, shipyard. The contract follows Austal’s introduction of its Wind Express series in mid-2010.

The Austal built OSV catamarans will be used to transport service crews and equipment to offshore wind farms off the coastlines of several European countries. Turbine Transfers has been supporting wind farm owners and operators for a number of years and currently owns and operates a fleet of 18 vessels. The Austal built vessels will be the first that Turbine Transfers has commissioned outside the United Kingdom.

Managing Director of Turbine Transfers, Captain Mark Meade, commented that Austal was selected based on the Western Australian company’s extensive experience in the design and construction of innovative aluminum vessels.

“We have no doubt that Austal will successfully apply their extensive design and construction experience to the wind farm industry with their first Wind Express contract.”

“We look forward to taking delivery of these three vessels, which were designed to provide comfortable transits and safe turbine step-offs, whilst capably servicing Europe’s growing windfarm industry,” said Captain Meade.

Austal Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Bellamy, noted that the contract award is an important first step for Austal in becoming a supplier to the growing European renewable energy market.

“Supporting the currently installed offshore generating capacity is today an attractive market opportunity, but the projected growth in new wind farms and wave generator capacity over coming years makes this market sector a strategic component of the Austal Group’s commercial vessel business,” said Mr. Bellamy.

Mr. Bellamy added that Austal brings a wealth of intellectual property to the needs of this new market and has already demonstrated this to Turbine Transfers by designing highly efficient vessels that will achieve greater speeds with a level of fuel efficiency that is superior to that of similar sized vessels in the Turbine Transfers fleet.

Austal has adopted an advanced fine entry chine hull form that in association with a high tunnel height, will enable the vessels to operate at speeds of up to 30 knots with targeted seakeeping ability in up to 2 m significant wave height.

Due for delivery in May 2012, the vessels will be built at Austal’s Henderson shipyard.

Vessel Specifications

Principal Particulars
Length overall: 21.30 m
Length waterline: 18.40 m
Beam (molded): 7.30 m
Hull depth (molded): 3.50 m
Hull draft (approx): 1.40 m
Crew: 3
Wind Farm Personnel: 12
Maximum Deadweight: 12.5 tonnes

Propulsion
Main engines: 2 x MTU 10V 2000 M72
Propulsion: 2 x Waterjets Rolls Royce 45 A3

Performance
Speed: 30 knots at 100% MCR

Survey
Classification Det Norske Veritas +1A1 HSLC Windfarm Service 1 R2 E0
Flag UK MCA

July 14, 2011