MPI Workboats Order Two More South Catamaran 17m WFSV (UK)

South Boats Special Projects Ltd. and MPI Workboats Ltd. are pleased to announce the two companies have signed a contract for the construction of a pair of South Catamaran 17m Wind Farm Support Vessels.

The two craft will be built at South Boats’ new facility in Cowes and will be delivered in February and June 2012 respectively. The second vessel will be exhibited at Seawork 2012.

The craft are the latest generation of South Boats’ class leading wind farm service vessels and are the fourth and fifth of the new 17m class, with the first two vessels recently delivered to MPI Workboats Ltd. Both of the 17.5m vessels will be built to UK MCA Workboat Code Category 2. Twin Scania DI16 43M 800mhp marine diesel engines with Twin Disc gears driving Ultra Dynamics UJ452 water jet units for sprint speed of 25 knots. The vessels will be identical to MPI Dorothea and MPI Dulcinea (exhibited at Seawork 2011) and are very high specification vessels designed to meet the demands of the construction, commissioning and O&M phases on offshore wind farm projects. The extensive specification includes a 690V 4 Star Delta commissioning generator set, fuel transfer systems, 4.5t/m deck crane, hydraulic pressure washer system for washing down TP’s and boat landings and a hydraulic fire pump.

MPI Workboats Ltd. are a wholly owned subsidiary of MPI Offshore Ltd. based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire. MPI Workboats already operate six South Catamaran vessels ranging from 15m to 20m, MPI Sancho Panza, MPI Don Quixote, MPI Rosinante, MPI Rucio, MPI Dorothea and MPI Dulcinea.

Leslie Robertson of MPI Workboats Ltd. says “I am delighted to announce the latest extension to our new build programme. Together with South Boats Special Projects we are now building another two impressive additions to our workboat fleet. The construction of these vessels clearly shows MPI’s commitment to both the wind farm maintenance sector and also to innovation. Our vessels and crew are always in high demand and I feel  confident that we are rapidly moving towards the position required to embrace the challenges of the fast-moving wind industry.”

South Boats Special Special Projects Ltd. of Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK, are the largest builders of offshore wind farm support vessels in the world. With 45 vessels in service within the sector with 13 operators, extensive  operational and development experience has been gained on over 25 projects in 7 countries. With an extensive portfolio of designs from 15m to over 30m, South Boats develop vessels from the industry for the industry. Ben Colman, Technical Director of South Boats says “we work very closely with MPI Workboats and over the years MPI have proved pivotal to our development plans with all of their vessels being first of class and then sister ships.

MPI demand a high-tech vessel with an advanced specification and we look forward to working with them on the build of these and future vessels”.

[mappress]

Source: southboatssp, June 14, 2011