CWind to Name Its New Vessel in Brightlingsea, UK

CWind, a leading provider of services to the offshore wind industry, has announced a second of its vessels, the CWind Resolution due to be named later today in Brightlingsea, has gained the new class notation ‘Wind Farm Service Ships’ introduced by Bureau Veritas earlier this year.

The CWind Resolution is only the second ever vessel to be classed under this notation to date, joining its sister vessel the CWind Challenger on the register. The vessel, a CTruk 20T MPC, is joining CWind’s fleet of now 15 vessels, as part of the company’s ‘Boat-share scheme’ under which experienced skippers are being given the opportunity to co-invest in the vessels.

Alex Atkins, Director of Offshore Energy Solutions Ltd, who has considerable maritime experience gained in the superyacht industry where he worked for more than 12 years, latterly as captain of yachts up to 60metres LOA, is the most recent addition to CWind’s boat share scheme. Alex, who holds a Master CoC <3000 grt licence has already spent some time working on CWind boats over the last eight months and is looking forward to taking ownership of his own vessel.

Following her naming, the vessel is due to join other members of the fleet on offshore wind farms off the coast of North Wales.

Dave Quested, Fleet Director at CWind commented: “We were very pleased that Bureau Veritas decided to introduce this new classification. We believe that common and regulated standards are going to be crucial in the next phase of growth for the offshore wind industry and we are happy to be pioneering this with our vessels. In Alex Atkins we have found the perfect boat-share partner for the new classed vessel. He has excellent boat handling skills and a strong client focus gained in his many years in the superyacht industry – excellent news for our clients and their technicians due to travel with him.Demand for boat share partnerships is high as the benefits and growth potential of the offshore wind industry become more readily apparent. With partners like Alex, we can be sure that CWind will continue to offer the high level of service our clients have come to expect of us.”

Alex Atkins commented: “I have thought carefully about this next step in my career as a skipper. Having worked for various owners I now want to be the owner of my vessel but I also want to work in an industry with growth potential. I have been sailing since I was seven and can’t envisage myself ever wanting to do anything else, but to be at sea. The offshore wind industry clearly has that potential and in CWind I have found a partner that can give me access to the sector, has the systems in place that are needed and the client relations that will keep me busy.It’s a win/win situation for CWind and for me. The chance to own a fully classed vessel was one I did not want to miss. ”

Yannis Calogeras, Marine Chief Executive, Bureau Veritas UK says “Bureau Veritas introduced the new notation ‘wind farm service ship’ because we felt the industry needed a clear standard for the vessels used to transfer crew and equipment. By introducing the notation, we have developed and implemented a clear set of technical standards for vessel manufacturers to follow. Aside from this clarity to manufacturers, the class gives an assurance to the charterers and users of these classed ships, that the vessel they are travelling on is fit for its purpose, constructed to international rules and independently verified by us against these. As the offshore wind industry is set to continue to grow and move further offshore over the next decade, we felt strongly that we needed to create these assurances now. To meet our new class notation, the vessel design has to be impeccable in its adherence to these guidelines, the production process has to be of the highest quality and hull, equipment and machinery need to match our established standards. Our surveyors were impressed by the standards of all three elements at CTruk and we’re delighted to list two CTruk vessels as the first ever ships in this class notation.”

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C Wind, November 14, 2013