November 25 - Damen Shipyards has unveiled a new wind farm service vessel (WSV) to support and accommodate turbine maintenance crews at sea and allow them to 'walk to work'.

After industry-wide consultation the vessel has been designed to provide on site work facilities and accommodation for 45 maintenance personnel, alongside 15 members of crew for voyages of up to one month.

The dynamically positioned WSV will include a telescopic, motion-compensated gangway, which will allow each three-man maintenance team to walk quickly and safely between vessel and turbine.

With an overall length of 90 m and a 20 m long beam, the Damen WSV will feature 500 sq m of deck space, a helideck, a motion and heave compensating crane, as well as a shallow 4.6 m draft.

With its diesel electric main propulsion, the new vessel will adhere to the company's E3 commitment to deliver vessels that are "environmentally-friendly, efficient in operation and economically viable", says Peter Robert, Damen's business development manager, offshore wind.

Designed to drop off all seven maintenance crews within three hours, the vessel will remain within range to provide support and emergency assistance through the working day before pick up.

Damen has forged significant presence in the wind farm support vessel market, following the launch of its 26 m long FCS 2610 Twin Axe, a high speed maintenance support catamaran.

 

 

www.damen.com

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