Marineco UK orders first-ever Damen High Speed Support Vessel 2610

September 3, 2010

Damen Shipyards Group announced the sale of its first-ever Twin Axe Catamaran, the Damen High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) 2610, which is particularly suited for the offshore wind industry.

Marineco UK, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, recently signed for the new HSSV 2610 with an option for a second. The Scottish firm already has an extensive Damen fleet.

More than a year in development, the Twin Axe HSSV design is a further development of Damen’s highly successful Sea Axe concept.

Martijn Smit, Damen Sales Manager for Europe, says: “Given the tremendous potential growth in the offshore wind industry there is a great need for vessels to access turbines and this can often be in constraining weather conditions. We were driven to find a concept that improves on conventional catamaran designs.”

Managing Director of Marineco UK, Mike Conafray, adds:

“As a company we have been monitoring the current vessels available that service the offshore wind farms but we never felt comfortable joining in with the existing vessels. When Damen came along to us with their proposals we quickly realised that by introducing them we would be able to offer the market a much enhanced vessel that would suit most of its needs.”

Extends operating window for offshore industry

The Damen HSSV 2610 has been undergoing thorough testing at Delft University in the Netherlands. “There have been ‘stunning’ results in the vessel’s seakeeping behaviour, resistance and at the same time, it has much lower fuel consumption,” Mr Smit stresses.

This is an extension of the Damen enlarged ship concept, he adds. “The raised work deck and sea axe bows enable the vessel to keep up its speed in a higher sea state and that is crucial for the offshore industry. And as many of the wind turbines will be located in challenging seas, this greatly extends the operating window.”

Additionally, the new vessel has accommodation for four crew and has a capacity for transporting 12 passengers. The HSSV has a large 20 tm deck crane, a spacious diving platform, HP cleaning unit and extra mooring winches. This makes the vessel suited for a diverse range of activities for supporting and supplying the offshore wind industry, as well as the wider offshore sector, he adds.

The HSSV 2610 has ample working and storage space on deck making it suitable for a variety of cargoes, including containers. And with a fuel capacity of 12,000 litres, the new vessel can be used to transfer fuel to wind turbines. Classed by Bureau Veritas, the vessel operates under the Workboat Code, Category 1.

Depending on the sea state, the maximum speed will be 26 knots with a range of 640 nm.

Currently under construction at Damen Gorinchem in the Netherlands, the vessel is expected to be ready by June 2011.

“There is a great deal of interest in this development. The market has been looking for a vessel that can continue to operate in higher sea states, while at the same time offering lower fuel consumption. Now we have proven the concept in model tests and this vessel is a reality,” says Mr Smit.

Marineco UK has named the first HSSV Marineco Shamal and it will operate under the British flag.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Dimensions 26 m x 10 m

Speed 26 knots, with a range of 1000 nm

Fuel transfer system

Three-point mooring system

Extensive cargo capacity, 15 Tons deck load

Fuel capacity of 20,000 litres

20 tm deck crane

Accommodation for four crew

Licence to carry 12 passengers

Seating up to 24 persons