Incat Crowther has announced the awarding of a three-vessel order for WINDEA CTV LLC, a U.S. operator of offshore Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs). Two of the aluminum 98'5'x32'10"x14'5" CTVs will be built in the U.S. by St Johns Shipbuilding in Jacksonville, Fla., and one will be built by Gulf Craft in Franklin, La. The boats will have a maximum draft of 5'6".
The WINDEA CTV fleet is owned and operated by MidOcean Wind LLC and Hornblower Wind LLC. (a member of Hornblower Group), with technical and operational support from WINDEA Offshore shareholder Ems Maritime Offshore GmbH, which operates a fleet of CTVs in the European market with more than 10 years of experience. MidOcean brings a 40+ year track record of U.S. Jones Act ship ownership in various vessel classes. Hornblower’s global footprint includes operating more than 150 vessels on the Northeast coast and providing full value-chain marine services, including design, build, delivery, maintenance, and operations services for clients across government, municipal, military, and private sectors.
This partnership is designed to position itself to build and operate a large fleet of CTVs that will be needed to serve the ongoing, rapid expansion of offshore wind power in the Northeast and across the U.S.
All three vessels will initially be chartered by GE on the Vineyard Wind Offshore wind farm 15 miles off the coast of Massachusetts.
The vessels are based on a CTV design developed by Incat Crowther. They feature a large foredeck with a 23 metric ton knuckle boom crane and container securing lugs offering needed flexibility. The vessels incorporate Incat Crowther’s patented Resilient Bow Technology minimizing boat landing impact forces. As is common with all Incat Crowther CTVs, the vessels have a deadweight capability in excess of 50 metric tons.
A resiliently mounted superstructure is designed to increase comfort for both technicians and crew with six crew berths provided in above deck staterooms. Other notable features include a large wet room and stores warehouse, fully featured bathrooms and a discreet mess area. Workshop and utility spaces in the hulls are immediately accessible from the cabin.
The vessels will be propelled by four Volvo Penta IPS propulsion units driven by Volvo DI13 main engines, producing 515 kW (690 hp) each. They are fully hybrid-ready, meaning the integration of the hybrid system is completely accommodated in the design, including dedicated voids for batteries, reserved cabling space and battery removal hatches. The propulsion package will give the boats a running speed of 26 knots.
Ship’s service power will come from two gensets, sparking 40 kW of electrical power each.
The vessels will be designed and built under Bureau Veritas class and comply with USCG CFR 46 Subchapter L regulations.
Tankage includes 9,510 gals. fuel oil and 925 gals. fresh water. The boats will carry a crew of six and 24 technicians.
“This order is the result of a significant joint development between Incat Crowther and the WINDEA CTV partners starting back in 2019,” Ed Dudson, managing director of Incat Crowther Europe said in a statement announcing the newbuilds. “It’s great to have multiple vessels building for what I am sure will be a very successful operation.”
