UK: South Boats Launches New Wind Farm Vessel ‘Porth Cadlan’

This South Catamaran 16m vessel is the fifth of a five boat order from Turbine Transfers Ltd. for the 16m to be delivered. This vessel compliments the twenty six wind farm vessels already built or in build for Turbine Transfers Ltd. by South Boats.

The ‘Porth Cadlan’ has an LOA of 16.8m, Beam of 6.3m, Draught of 0.95m and a lightship displacement of 29 tonnes. The vessel is configured with a central wheelhouse providing a forward deck capable of carrying up to 5 tonnes of construction and O&M equipment coupled to a aft deck capable of carrying a 3 tonne 690V 4 star delta generator set for supplying power to the wind turbine generators.

Powered by twin Scania DI16 43M 800mhp diesel engines and coupled to Ultra Dynamics UJ452 water jet units the vessel achieved a sprint speed of 27 knots and is capable of cruising at speeds in excess of 23 knots in departure condition. A sophisticated hydraulics system driven by both Twin Disc gearboxes powers a Palfinger PK4501M fully folding knuckle boom crane forward, 5 bar 30,000 litre per hour fire pump, 1.5 tonne hydraulic capstan, 210 bar 30 litre per minute pressure washer system and 3.5tm3 8 bar fuel transfer system. The integrated system offers full redundancy from two supplies. An ONAN 9kW 230V AC generator set supplies power to the vessels ring main and AC services.

This latest generation vessel has a totally reworked interior arrangement with the entrance door offset to starboard and a full width changing area, hanging area and turbine spares lockers aft. Forward there are six crew seats to port arranged as three rows of two with the forward two rows facing each other with a table between and six crew seats arranged as two rows of three, all with tables forward facing to stbd. A twin screen entertainment TV/DVD system is fitted with forward looking cameras.

The bridge has a fully integrated Raymarine and Furuno electronic suite comprising twin radars, twin chart plotters, video sounder, fully recording CCTV, low light camera, thermal imaging camera, AIS, satellite compass, twin DSC radio’s, loud hailer, GPS and auto pilot. The bridge has heated forward screens to eliminate misting.

All windows in the vessel are fully double glazed to eliminate condensation to provide the technicians with clear visibility out of the vessel and free standing air intake and air extraction systems for the machinery spaces and high tech anti noise and vibration matting minimise noise and vibration to the passenger saloon areas.

South Boats continues to build 25 wind farm crew transfer vessels per annum and the new generation 16m, 17m, 19m, 24m and 28m designs are now populating the range – those not yet started will come on line over the next few months. All of the new generation vessels feature modular superstructures, integrated systems, options for secondary access systems and new bow fender system. With 7 years experience of building 75 wind farm vessels for 15 operators, who have worked on over 25 projects, there is no doubt that South Boats catamarans remain the vessel of industry choice.

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World Maritime News Staff, January 18, 2012; Image: South Boats Group