Incat launches world’s largest fast crew boat

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 — A 70 m Fast Crew Boat (FCB) was named Muslim Magomayev at a ceremony at Australia’s Incat Tasmania shipyard on Monday, September 15. Designed by Incat Crowther, with production engineering by Revolution Design, it is the first vessel that the shipbuilder has purpose built for the oil and gas industry, however designer Incat Crowther has a track record that includes the design of over 90 vessels operating in the sector.

When sea trials are completed,will depart later this month to Baku, Azerbaijan, to start work for Caspian Marine Services.

The first of type DP2 class catamaran is named for Azerbaijan opera and popular music singer Muslim Magomayev who died in 2008.

Caspian Marine Services will use the vessel to operate fast crew transfers for 150 offshore workers to multiple installations in the Caspian Sea, where eight Incat Crowther-designed crew boats already operate.

Crew transfer is completed primarily by an Ampelmann walk-to-work stabilized access platform, providing a level platform and gangway to access offshore platforms. The access system compensates for the vessel’s motion by using hydraulic cylinders with a motion compensating control system. The vessel will hold station using dynamic positioning (DNV DYNPOS-AUTR) and crew transfers will be performed with a 98.5% uptime in prevailing conditions.

This vessel is the first catamaran to utilize this system and the first to have the stabilized access platform structure and supporting systems fully integrated into the design. For redundancy a crane lifted personnel transfer system is also provided for up to two groups of 9 offshore workers.

Whilst the primary function of the vessel is crew transfer, the vessel’s arrangement provides flexibility with an additional 275 square meters of cargo deck. This capacity will allow the vessel to complete cargo hot shots for 130 tons of deck cargo to a range of 400 nm at speeds up to 35 knots.

The high speed of the 70 metre FCB will allow operational efficiency over helicopter transfer for both passengers and cargo, whilst the semi-SWATH hull design, along with active ride control, will reduce stress on passengers so they arrive at an oil platform relaxed and fit to work.

The vessel’s 16 m beam is far narrower than is usual for an Incat catamaran but determined by the width of the Volga-Don Canal that it must transit on its delivery from Hobart, Tasmania to Baku in Azerbaijan.

Muslim Magomayev will be the world’s largest high speed crew catamaran vessel operating in the global oil and gas industry, and Incat Chairman Robert Clifford said “we believe this fast crew boat will generate a great deal of interest in the global oil and gas industry. It will pave the way for future orders for similar vessels as operators can take up an alternate to the very expensive option of helo transfers.”

Power is supplied by four 2,880 kW MTU engines each turning Hamilton HT 900 waterjets.

Anticipated design speed was 36 knots with an efficient service speed of 30 knots at full load and 90% MCR. Though sea trials have not yet been completed,  on her first day on the water the vessel comfortably achieved 38.7 knots lightship.

The ship has been constructed of lightweight marine grade aluminum over the past year at Incat Tasmania’s Derwent Park Hobart shipyard. It is the first craft Incat has built to the DNV Clean Design notation, giving it a “Green Passport.”

The vessel’s electronic installations are extensive with an expansive wheelhouse to accommodate the range of high tech systems required for the dynamic positioning.

Passengers are accommodated on both the main deck and mid-deck, with the mid-deck featuring crew accommodations for 14. All crew cabins offer excellent crew comfort and are ILO-compliant. The main deck also features VIP rooms, vending machines, luggage space and a large workshop.