Page 66: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2016)

RIBS, PATROL BOATS, FAST CRAFT

Offshore Wind Vessel Christened Atlantic Pioneer (Photo: Blount Boats)

Powered by MAN engines driving Hamilton Jets through ZF fears, Atlantic Pioneer Charles A. Donadio Jr, christens Atlantic Pioneer at a ceremony at Quonset Point cruises at 26 knots and exceeded sprint speeds of 30 knots durin sea trials. in North Kingstown, R.I. Below, suspension seating for a smooth ride.

erving notice that U.S. yards can in Rhode Island for a Rhode Island oper- and do build workboats for the ator servicing a Rhode Island wind farm;

Snascent North American offshore it doesn’t get any better.” wind farm industry, Blount Boats has “This is the ? rst vessel of its kind built delivered the Atlantic Pioneer, Ameri- in the United States. No one has built a ca’s ? rst U.S.-? agged crew transfer ves- boat like it. That’s what makes it very, sel (CTV) for Atlantic Wind Transfers. very unique,” said Charles A. Donadio

Atlantic Wind Transfers is the commer- Jr., President of Rhode Island Fast Ferry.

cial wind support services subsidiary of Donadio said Atlantic Pioneer is also

Rhode Island Fast Ferry, which secured a “cross-platform vessel.” It is dual cer- a 20-year contract from Deepwater Wind ti? ed to USCG subchapter L (offshore

Block Island, LLC to operate the vessel supply vessel) to carry up to 16 offshore for the nation’s ? rst offshore wind farm, workers and subchapter T (small passen- (Photo: Eric Haun) (Photo: Eric Haun) beginning in May 2016. ger) to carry up to 47 passengers. “We

Atlantic Pioneer Main Particulars

Christened on April 22 at a ceremony can carry the technicians, but we also The vessel is engineered to carry up to at Quonset Point in North Kingstown, went one step further . . . certifying as 12 tons of cargo in the bow and 3 tons

Length, o.a. ..................70.2 ft. (21.4m)

R.I., Atlantic Pioneer is a 21-meter twin a T passenger boat,” Donadio said. “So in the stern. The forward and after decks

Max Beam ....................23.95 ft. (7.3m) hulled, all-aluminum catamaran built we can actually take this boat out with are out? tted with cargo lashing and con-

Trim Control .... Humphree Interceptors to service the Block Island Wind Farm, 47 passengers and do a little tour around tainer sockets. The bow has a board-

Length, DWL ................59.33’ (18.08m) which will be the ? rst offshore wind the bay or some small wind farm tours.” ing/loading platform to allow offshore

Draft ............................ 4.06 ft. (1.24m) farm to take shape in the U.S. with a Atlantic Pioneer’s propulsion system workers to make the transition from the

Generator ......................Cummins Onan ? ve-turbine site that will provide 30MW consists of two MAN V12-1400 hp en- vessel to the wind turbine. The vessel,

Gearboxes .....................ZF model 3050 power for Block Island. gines, ZF Marine 3050 Gears, and Ham- capable of making transfers in 1.5-me-

Service Speed ..........................26 knots

Designed by South Boats IOW (Isle ilton Jet HM571 waterjets. The vessel ter signi? cant wave heights, connects to

Windows ....Sea Glaze Marine Windows of Wight), which has designed and built exceeded the contractual performance the turbine base by use of a special bow

Waterjets ....................Hamilton HM571 approximately 81 crew transfer vessels during sea trials, reaching sprint speeds fendering system. Atlantic Pioneer is

Paint .........................International Paint for service to the European offshore in excess of 30 knots, with the ability coated with the anticorrosive ORCA HT

Cargo DWT ....12 Tons fwd & 3 Tons aft wind sector, Atlantic Pioneer was built to cruise (80 percent power) at 26 knots Offshore vinyl ? lm from Orca Maritime

Seats ....Cabin / (12) Seat Design Co. b by Rhode Island’s Blount Boats, which when in a light condition. above sea level, including superstruc-

Passengers ...............................up to 47 in 2011 signed an exclusive licensing A Cummins Onan 17kw generator pro- ture, hull and tunnel.

Engines ........MAN V12-1200CR [V-Nue] agreement with South Boats covering vides AC power to the air conditioning The interior of the deckhouse is out-

Interior Lighting .............Imtra (24v LED) the U.S. offshore wind industry. system, a heating system and small gal- ? tted with a head, a small galley area

Builder ......................Blount Boats, Inc.

“We take pride in every boat we build, ley. with settee seating, 12 suspension seats,

Cargo DWT ....12 Tons fwd & 3 Tons aft

Displacement (Lightship) ..............45 LT but this boat is very special – the ? rst A PTO driven hydraulic system pow- storage lockers, entertainment system,

Designer ......................South Boats IOW

U.S.-? agged vessel serving the ? rst off- ers a deck crane, ? re pump, fuel transfer Wi-Fi and sound absorbing decking. The

Window Wipers ................Exalto/Decca shore wind farm in the United States,” pump and a salt water pressure washing entire deckhouse is isolated from the hull

Total Fuel Capacity ..........2100 U.S. gal.

said Marcia Blount, president and chief system. All other equipment is fed DC with vibration mounts for a quieter and

Fire Detection .............................Sea? re ? nancial of? cer at Blount Boats. “Built power through house batteries. smoother ride to and from the work site.

Air Conditioning........Dometic Cruise Air 66 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • MAY 2016

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