Damen introduces Twin Axe wind farm support vessel

Damen Shipyards, Gorinchem, Netherlands, is currently finalizing the first “Twin Axe” catamaran designed to provide a wide range of support services tooffshore wind farms in the widest sense. It says that its High Speed Support Vessel 2610 is one of the most innovative design concepts it has  developed in the last decade.

Although the “Axe Bow” concept has been developed some five years ago with great commercial success, the “Twin Axe” offers a more stable platform within the 24 m load line.

Compared to “conventional” catamarans with the same displacement the new concept offers peak accelerations reduced by up to 75 percent, calm water resistance reduced by up to 15 percent and added resistance in waves reduced by up to 60 percent.

The first HSSV 2610 will be introduced during “Seawork 2011” in Southampton, England (June 14 – 16 ). Next month, the vessel will be subject to a test program to verify the actual performance against the predictions and model tests.

Special features of this design are:

• front fendering designed for impact speeds over 3 knots without damage to the ship’s structure
• aft wheelhouse / accommodations for lowest possible accelerations
• flexibly mounted wheelhouse for lowest possible noise levels
• two-step gearbox for maximum bollard pull without engine overload at 0-speed
• large cargo deck for 2 x 20 ft containers (max. 15 tons)
• diving / rescue platform aft
• high degree of customiization i.e. moonpool and extra accommodations
• fuel transfer option
• trimming of vessel using fore and aft fuel tanks
• extensive endurance
• 3 point mooring system

April 13, 2011