South African yard delivers wave piercing crew boat

JUNE 24, 2015 — South Africa’s Veecraft Marine shipyard in Cape Town has delivered Benreoch, a 30 m Incat Crowther wave piercing catamaran utility craft developed specifically for crew transfer to offshore platforms in Nigeria.

At 30.3 m in length and 8.5 m in beam, Benreoch is 2.7 m longer and 1 m wider than predecessor vessels, Topaz Zenith and Topaz Zephyr.

The larger platform has been used to increase the aft working deck capacity, which has a 53 sq.m cargo area and carries a rescue boat and crane. The aft deck is large enough to carry 10-ft and 20-ft containers in various configurations and is fitted with a 20-ft self-contained accommodations module that houses eight “special personnel.” This probably means a security detail. A reminder of the realities of operations offshore Nigeria is that the the wheelhouse has ballistic protection.

Inside the main deck cabin is seating for 22 passengers in large, comfortable forward-facing seats. Also on the main deck are a captain’s cabin, a 4 person cabin and a 6 person cabin, each with its own bathroom.

A galley and mess are fitted to starboard along with a small laundry. Adjacent stairs lead to the upper deck wheelhouse and to the hulls, each housing a twin cabin.The wheelhouse has forward and aft-facing control stations and good visibility over the cargo deck and foredeck, enhanced by high windows and blinds forward and aft, offering clear visibility for personnel and cargo transfer or firefighting duties.

A benefit of the wave piercer hull is that it allows Benreoch’s bow to interface cleanly with the offshore platform, whilst being well clear in all other areas to avoid risk of hull damage and crush injuries. To eliminate the risk of damage to the forepeaks or having the hull hang up on structures, the vessel’s bows are well back from the outline of the foredeck.

Fitted with a pair of Caterpillar C32 Acert main engines, each producing 1,081 kW, Benreoch has a cruising speed of 26 knots and a maximum speed of 30 knot