The FOSS system will enhance vessel stability, improving comfort for offshore wind technicians, thereby creating substantial operational efficiency gains.
The deal closely follows Seacat’s double order for the new BARTech 30 vessel in September, with the build contract for all four boats awarded to Diverse Marine. It strengthens the collaboration between the four South Coast-based businesses as they continue to bolster a robust local offshore energy supply chain. Delivery of the vessels is scheduled for the spring of 2022 and 2023.
The pair of FOSS equipped vessels – to be named Seacat Sceptre and Seacat Sovereign - will bring increased versatility to the fleet, particularly for testing deep water charters. They will also further the firm’s commitment to pursuing solutions for more fuel-efficient vessel operations that do not compromise performance at sea.
The addition of the FOSS to the Chartwell 24, with its high payload and large deck space, will help dampen pitch and roll, further enhancing its seakeeping capabilities and manoeuvrability. This will ensure that technicians can be accommodated safely and comfortably for optimal job performance on arrival. Optimising the vessel in this way also contributes to reduced fuel burn and emissions, with efficiency savings of up to 15 percent, representing a valid alternative to hybrid designs.
“The Chartwell 24 platform has already proven itself a versatile solution as we invest in our fleet to meet the demands of our broadening project portfolio” said Ian Baylis, Managing Director at Seacat Services. “With the FOSS addition, Chartwell and BAR Technologies have helped us to take another step forward, while retaining the familiar vessel qualities that contribute to our proven formula.”
Andy Page, Naval Architect and Managing Director at Chartwell Marine, added that vessel design must take the needs of the end user into consideration and that, with operators now working in a wider variety of sea conditions, the Chartwell 24 range provides the versatility required to best serve the operator, whether that’s through hybrid propulsion variations or, in this case, the inclusion of FOSS technology.
The announcement follows the launch of Seacat’s first Chartwell 24, Seacat Weatherly, earlier in the year and the delivery of sister vessel, Seacat Rainbow, in October. Both vessels are already at work at UK offshore wind sites.
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