Page 86: of Marine News Magazine (November 2018)

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OFFSHORE WIND

Designing for the Winds of Change

The advent of U.S. offshore wind brings the need for well designed built-for-purpose vessels to sustain its momentum.

By Joseph Keefe s the long-awaited advent of offshore wind ? nally ci? c demands of offshore wind manufacturers, developers arrives on this side of the big pond, one question and operators. According to Chartwell Marine Managing

A which continues to dominate the conversation is Director Andy Page, the need to create con? dence with where (and when) the ? t-for-purpose tonnage necessary for familiar designs still leaves room for innovation, and sub- this great leap forward will come from. Just as important, stantial opportunities exist for those who can optimize stakeholders need to have con? dence in the availability of vessels for US market conditions. In particular, he says, proven vessel concepts, as they continue to explore opportu- meeting EPA Tier 4 air quality requirements with bespoke nities and justify investment decisions in the growing sector. propulsion options, hull and deck designs that stand up to larger Atlantic swells, and the ability to respond to unique development approaches with enhanced logistical support

First Out of the Gate capacity, will be crucial advantages.

Rhode Island-based shipyard Blount Boats, in June, an-

Page brings an impressive CV to the offshore wind party. nounced that it had signed a sublicense agreement with Ma- rine Applied Physics Corp. (MAPC) of Baltimore, Md., for With a BEng degree in Yacht and Power Craft Design, a the building of crew transfer vessels (CTV) designed by UK Diploma in Ship Surveying and over 10 years’ experience in marine architecture, Page’s ? edgling ? rm, a Naval Architec- builder South Boats. South Boats has designed and built ap- tural consultancy business, started operations in January of proximately 30 percent of the wind farm crew transfer ves- sels operating on European windfarms, and Blount Boats this year. Previously, Page worked for large high-speed vessel boat builder; South Boats, as a naval architect. Andy headed has held the U.S. license for the ? rm’s designs since 2011.

But, this isn’t Blount’s ? rst rodeo in offshore wind. In up the design team, which at its peak had 11 naval architects 2016, Blount courageously built and ultimately delivered working on site. Page explains, “I was fortunate, along with a South Boats 21-meter transfer vessel, Atlantic Pioneer, my great colleagues, to be the designer of the Atlantic Pio- to Rhode Island Fast Ferry. The vessel was the ? rst U.S. neer which is the ? rst offshore wind farm boat, missioned by

Atlantic Wind Transfers.” ? agged, and ? t-for-purpose crew transfer vessel to oper- ate in U.S. waters and services the Deepwater Wind Block

Island Wind Farm, which is the ? rst, and currently sole,

The Chartwell 24 offshore wind farm operating in U.S. waters. The Chartwell 24 design was developed following exten-

In the years to come, as new offshore wind farms be- sive collaboration and interface with industry stakehold- gin to sprout up in U.S. waters, a ? eet of Jones Act crew ers. Ideally proportioned for operation in offshore wind, transfer vessels will be required for servicing these proj- the displacement versus installed power provides excellent ects. But Blount and South Boats aren’t alone anymore in transit performance, together with high bollard push and this venue. In October, Chartwell Marine launched the frictional holding force. The Chartwell 24 has an equal

Chartwell 24, a new CTV design that responds to the spe- foredeck space to that of the largest available CTV on the

November 2018 86 MN

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