Offshore energy support vessel (OESV) operator Seacat Services has placed an order to build new catamaran to support offshore wind sector.

Seacat

Image: Seacat Services orders new offshore cataraman. Photo: Courtesy of Seacat Services Ltd.

The company stated that the new catamaran Seacat Weatherly has been designed by Chartwell Marine, a Southampton-based naval architect and it will be constructed by Isle of Wight firms Diverse Marine and Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) in Cowes.

The contract also has a scope for further development of Seacat Services fleet, with the addition of a sister vessel to support Seacat Weatherly. The catamaran will be able to accommodate 24 industrial personnel, alongside 4 crew members.

The catamaran is expected to be completed by next March and is claimed to be the first Chartwell 24 catamaran to enter service. The Chartwell 24 vessel design has been developed by Chartwell Marine, backed by 10 years of offshore wind vessel design experience and after extensive dialogue with Seacat Services and other wind farm owners and turbine manufacturers.

Seacat Services managing director Ian Baylis said: “Despite ongoing uncertainty in Westminster and Brussels, the offshore wind sector has repeatedly demonstrated its capacity to get on with the job in hand – and, frankly, faced with rising demand for high quality vessel support, this was an order that couldn’t wait.”

“The Chartwell 24 is the vessel the market has been calling for. It not only responds directly to our needs as a vessel operator, but also ticks all the boxes for our offshore wind farm customers. Seacat Weatherly will help us collectively set new benchmarks for safety, availability and performance.”

The new catamaran is also claimed to have one of the largest foredecks on the market, extending its cargo-carrying capacity. It will have designated walkways, handrails and safety sliding rails positioned for safe, repeatable crew transfer.

Seacat Weatherly is expected to fit into the existing 14-strong Seacat Services fleet of class-certified OESVs, as the vessel is designed to offer high levels of operational familiarity for crews and technicians.