Holland Shipyards Starts Conversion of DP Gezina

In response to the growing European market for wind energy, Chevalier Floatels has initiated the development of a new design concept for staff accommodation and transport to offshore wind farms installations.

Chevalier Floatels’ ethos is that their vessels are more than just ‘floating accommodations’. The wellbeing and comfort of the staff on board is paramount. However, there is also much focus on reducing operating costs (including fuel), environmental/social aspects and of course reliability.

For this purpose, Chevalier Floatels recently purchased two ships, which will be converted and upgraded according to this philosophy. On 31 October 2012 Holland Shipyards was commissioned to undertake the conversion. The first ship, to be named DP Gezina, will have Lloyd’s class approval and will operate as a DP2 Service Support Vessel. It will also be built according to the SPS Code.

To implement this philosophy and its higher standards successfully into the design and building process, Chevalier Floatels involved super yacht and interior specialists in the project at an early stage to work side by side with the offshore experts. Thus providing a guarantee of a high level of reliability, efficiency and comfort. The hull design, in combination with various techniques on board, provides the vessel with very pleasant sea keeping characteristics to begin with, thus reducing seasickness to an absolute minimum. The high quality finish of the cabins and bathrooms almost give people the illusion that they are on board of a luxury yacht or have checked in an exclusive (land) hotel. TV, internet and game consoles are in every cabin, just to mention some of the facilities on board. Common recreational areas, fitness rooms and 24 hour service are among the other pleasant standards on board. The water makers, waste water purification system, (solid) waste management system, conditioned and separate food storage areas, and capacity of the (fuel) tanks provide 30 day autonomy. DP Gezina offers accommodation to 60 people each in single berth cabins, but with a few simple adjustments the vessel can optionally facilitate 90 persons (preparations will be made to enable modification of part of the accommodation to two berth cabins).

Top spec navigation and bridge equipment, with integrated automation and monitoring systems guarantee a safe and reliable voyage. The extensive propulsion plant, consisting of two 360 ° azimuthing thrusters, a retractable 360° bow thruster and a fixed bow thruster, ensures high manoeuvrability of the ship. The propulsion plants are powered by a diesel electric system controlled by a power management system. This assures that the diesel engines always run at an optimal load, thus fuel consumption is relatively low and the emission of harmful exhaust gases is greatly reduced.

A self stabilising Ampelmann personnel transfer platform, that actively compensates all vessel motions, with a walkway will be fitted on deck of DP Gezina. As a result of the optimised placement of the Ampelmann, entrance platforms of windmills (or working decks of a platform) can be accessed straight from the vessel. The result is no more dangerous transfers close to the water and the waves are necessary. In combination with a reliable DP2 system and a powerful set of retractable stabilizers, a safe, easy and fast transfer of the vessel to the windmills can be guaranteed. Even with wave heights of 3 meters (significant) work can continue, resulting in 85 to 90% efficiency.

On the sides and at the stern of the vessel platforms are provided for wind cats or other support vessels to come alongside. And there are even more provisions inside the hull, making the vesseleven more versatile. It will, for example, include multibeam sonar facilities to perform bottom surveys and inspections of foundations of offshore structures. Because of the completeness and the multi purpose character, the vessel has a high efficiency and offers a wide range of employability, with very little or no down time.

Above the focus has been on transporting persons and equipment to offshore wind farm installations, however this Service Support Vessel has also been developed with the offshore oil and gas exploration/exploitation in mind. So, of course, the vessel is also prepared for this market: with a few simple minor adjustments it can also be deployed in this market.

At the end of April 2013 DP Gezina scheduled to be operational for action and available to as staff accommodation and transport vessel for offshore maintenance and installation projects in the wind, oil and gas industry.

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Chevalier Floatels, November 26, 2012