Innovative 30 meter Jones Act CTV awarded ABS AiP

ABS has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an innovative 30 meter offshore wind crew transfer vessel (CTV) design developed by Portsmouth, U.K. based naval architect firm BAR Technologies and Southampton, U.K., based Chartwell Marine.

The AiP for the BAR 30 meter CTV follows on from one awarded earlier this year for the Chartwell 24 meter CTV

The AiP follows on one issued earlier this year for the Chartwell 24 meter CTV, two of which are on order at the Warren, R.I., Blount Boats shipyard for Atlantic Wind Transfers, and is seen as a further stepping-stone towards development an advanced, class-certified, Jones Act compliant fleet of offshore wind support vessels for the U.S. market.

Vessels servicing the expanding East Coast offshore wind development areas will increasingly need to travel further for longer, while navigating deeper waters and greater wave heights. This must be achieved without compromising on efficiency or environmental standards, in accordance with U.S. regulations on emissions and Right Whale avoidance.

In response to this challenge, BAR, with the support of Chartwell, has developed a 30 meter CTV, that makes use of a foil optimized stability system (FOSS) to enhance seakeeping and maneuverability, while reducing vertical acceleration by up to 70% in 2.5 meter wave heights.

In addition to delivering greater levels of availability in rough seas, the BAR 30 meter CTV also demonstrates up to 50% fuel efficiency savings at 15 knots, keeping emissions in line with EPA Tier 4 guidelines.

This initial vessel will be closely followed by a 50 meter variant capable of 45 knots top speed and 30 knots in a 3 meter high sea without exceeding vertical acceleration limits. This 40 passenger boat, with a similar hull form and FOSS technology, is aimed at the replacement of helicopter transfer for workers in the Gulf of Mexico.

Andy Page, Naval Architect and Managing Director at Chartwell Marine, said that the ABS AiP “paves the way for these next generation vessels to fully integrate into East Coast operations. The design of these boats has capitalized on operational experience in the global market, refining the formula for offshore wind support through ongoing research and discussion with stakeholders.”

“With the first Chartwell 24 working in the U.K. and the first U.S. Chartwell 24 in build,” said Page, “we are excited to work with BAR to bring a further, highly versatile option to the US market.”

John Cooper, CEO, BAR Technologies, said: “Approval in Principle for the BAR 30 m CTV is an important development that broadens the opportunities for cross-market collaboration. As we work towards the decarbonization of the workboat sector, this latest innovation represents new gains in efficiency which have been achieved by placing the operational profile at the forefront of vessel design. In this way, we have been able to design a CTV that combines optimal performance in challenging conditions with a significantly reduced environmental impact.”