Atlantic Wind Transfers positions for growth

Written by Nick Blenkey
24 meter offshore wind Crew Transfer Vessel

Built by Blount Boats, Atlantic Wind Transfers’ Chartwell 24 CTV Atlantic Endeavor has been contracted to serve the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind wind farm.

Rhode Island-based offshore wind crew transfer vessel (CTV) owner and operator Atlantic Wind Transfers (AWT) plans to be to be at the forefront in providing crew transfer services up and down the East Coast as the U.S. offshore wind industry expands.

As part of its growth plan, the company will use DNV’s seamless Fit for Purpose program and has retained classification society DNV to pursue integrated Safety Management System and ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certification.

AWT’s president Charles A. Donadio, sees the company’s fleet of CTVs growing five-fold over the next five years from its current two vessel fleet, with the business expanding to the West Coast as the industry grows.

Donadio is keen that AWT maintain its position as a leader in technology and design in the sector and in growing the business through innovation and collaboration with its European counterparts. He sees the company’s management system certification as an integral part of that growth plan.

There is no current U.S. requirement for SMS certification of CTVs, but AWT seeks to ensure the company has a foundation for future growth.

“Looking ahead to the future of U.S. offshore wind, safety will be of utmost importance,” said Donadio. “Understanding the evolution of offshore wind in Europe and what the expectations are of European developers, we are readying ourselves to be on par with the European standard. After all, it’s the same European developers that are planting roots here.”

“Our voluntary efforts reflect our understanding of the industry’s needs and our commitment to provide the sector’s best turnkey operating model to benefit our clients and the industry,” he adds.

“Having a strong Safety Management System and optimizing its effectiveness is business critical, and our involvement in certifying those audit processes will result in continuous improvement and have positive impact on AWT’s operation,” said Antony DSouza, executive vice president and regional manager, DNV Maritime Americas. “It is a privilege for us to work with AWT in certifying its SMS and ISO systems. The U.S. offshore wind industry is positioned to take off in a big way, and as one of the leading operators in the space, their pursuit of voluntary certification is likely to set an industry standard.”

DNV SEAMLESS AND FIT FOR PURPOSE AUDITS

DNV certification service take into account that the challenges and strategic ambitions of each company are unique, so the audits performed should be tailored to the company. Fit for Purpose audit results are designed not just to verify compliance but also to look at the overall effectiveness of the SMS and assess whether it helps the company reach its desired results and operational goals.

Industry performance data and dashboards are incorporated into the analysis to help proactively identify improvement opportunities and manage risk.

Through the data smart audits, operators gain insight into their competitiveness, which aids in future planning and decision making.

DNV is authorized to perform audits and issue ISM, ISPS and MLC certificates on behalf of more than 100 flag states. DNV also provides accredited Seamless Services (ISM with ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 and/or 50001) which leverages the overlaps between requirements of various certification schemes.

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