Offshore energy support vessel operator, Seacat Services, has signed a multi-million-pound contract with 2 Isle of Wight firms to build a new next-generation catamaran for deployment in the offshore wind sector.
Seacat Weatherly, designed by Southampton-based naval architect Chartwell Marine, will be constructed by Isle of Wight firms Diverse Marine and Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) in Cowes, providing a boost to the renewable energy supply chain on the South Coast.
The contract includes an option for a further vessel, which would see Seacat Weatherly joined by a sister vessel in the Seacat Services fleet.
With unprecedented demand for specialist vessel support as large-scale offshore wind farms are brought online throughout the UK and Europe – and emerging opportunities in international markets such as the USA and Asia – the industry has been calling for a new generation of offshore energy support vessel (OESV) designs that meet the evolving requirements of project development and operation. Capitalising on lessons learnt from the most effective vessels currently in operation, and refining this formula, is an essential requirement as the industry scales up.
Scheduled for completion in March 2020, Seacat Weatherly is set to be the first Chartwell 24 catamaran to enter service. The Chartwell 24 vessel design has been developed by Chartwell Marine off the back of 10 years of offshore wind vessel design and experience, alongside extensive dialogue with high profile stakeholders, including Seacat Services and leading wind farm owners and turbine manufacturers.
Ian Baylis, Managing Director, Seacat Services 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.”
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Ben Colman, Managing Director, Diverse Marine, said:
“On the Isle of Wight, we have a world-leading heritage in the build of offshore wind support vessels. Working alongside AMC, we’re now excited to be pioneering the next generation of workboats as the offshore wind market expands in the UK and globally. More importantly, we’re delighted to support ongoing employment opportunities on the South Coast.”
Brilliant news, never mind more housing on the Medina waterfronts, just replace the shipbuilding facilities.