Incat Crowther announced that the firm has been contracted to design an innovative 28m Wave Piercing Catamaran Crew Boat to support offshore oil and gas operations.
Developed in conjunction with Topaz Shipbuilding for a large petroleum firm, the vessel features a new and cleverly developed layout.
As the original inventors of the Wave Piercing Catamaran, Incat Crowther proposed the platform in response to a challenging combination of operational requirements.
The first challenge was to balance a restriction on beam with the requirement to locate an Oil Spill Recovery container transversely on the aft deck. The solution was to have upright topsides aft, like a traditional catamaran. The operators also required a monohull shaped bow that interfaced cleanly with the rig structure, whilst being well clear in all other areas to avoid risk of collisions and injuries. The Wave Piercer’s centre bow is an ideal solution to this requirement. To eliminate the risk of damage to the forepeaks or having them hang up on the rig structure, the vessel’s hull bows have been configured so that they do not extend beyond the outline of the foredeck.
The resultant platform offers excellent functionality, whilst retaining the wave piercer’s offshore capabilities.
The vessel features a large aft-deck with container mounts, Effer 155M deck crane and more than 50 square metres of usable deck space.
Passenger access is via side gates at the forward end of the cargo deck. This transverse passenger thoroughfare is protected from the cargo space by large cargo barriers, allowing passengers and cargo to be loaded concurrently in a safe and efficient manner.
The vessel will be powered by a pair of Caterpillar C32 Acert engines, each producing 1193kW at 2100rpm. These engines will drive Hamilton HM651 waterjets. The vessel’s service speed will be 28 knots, with a maximum speed of 30 knots.
The port main engine will turn a FFS 250x350HD FiFi pump that feeds a foredeck mounted fire monitor.
Incat Crowther believes that its commitment to continual evolution and improvement in its products has allowed the company to develop this unique design to meet its client’s specific requirements. A second vessel with higher passenger capacity is also under construction at Topaz Shipbuilding.
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Source: incatcrowther, August 11, 2010: