Feature 7 | WATERJETS Jet setters thrive on market demand
Waterjets have become a staple of the offshore wind support vessel sector and are being increasingly aimed at small-to-medium sized fast ferries and patrol boats.
ship- and boatyards, and proven a welcome source of extra revenue for equipment manufacturers, then it has had an equally beneficial impact on the waterjet manufacturing sector, with demand for this means of propulsion steadily climbing over the past few years. On the face of it, the advantages of
I
waterjet propulsion seem perfectly suited to offshore wind farm support, especially when it comes to granting operators a greater degree of control over navigation in confined waters. As Mike Lane, managing and technical director of waterjet manufacturer Ultra Dynamics, puts it: “The wind farm support vessel
sector is
pushing for developments in control systems,
to improve reliability and
manoeuvrability. These vessels’ work schedules are demanding, with working hours on most installations increasing, and down time is very costly.” Lane also credits waterjets with
granting these vessel types the ability to cope with varying displacements, a commonly encountered factor for craft calling at the wind turbines. “The ability to operate in shallow water is still one of the key reasons for selecting waterjets over conventional propeller systems,” Lane adds. “At higher speeds, waterjets are also more efficient and do not overload the engines when the craft displacement or sea conditions vary. On an environmental front, waterjets have often been selected by operators to avoid causing harm to manatees and other marine wildlife.”
Wind farm support Similarly, he notes, joystick-controlled systems are becoming popular across the board, and are almost a permanent feature for waterjets ordered by offshore wind farm support vessel operators.
58 The company’s UltraJet series
has found its way onto a number of support vessels, including two recently launched by UK-based South Boats, which is currently managing an annual order book of 20 wind farm crew transfer catamarans. The 19.1m sister vessels MCS Zephyr - reportedly the world’s first vessel to be built under survey to the new Det Norske Veritas (DNV) 1A1 HSLC R2 Wind Farm Service 1 class notation – and MCS Maestro are powered by twin MTU 8V2000M72 diesel engines, each generating just under 710kW, coupled to Ultra Dynamics UJ575 waterjets, granting the vessel a cruising speed of 24knots and a sprint speed of nearly 26knots. MCS Zephyr is
currently
deployed on the BARD offshore wind farm, situated off the coast of Germany. The UJ575 waterjet unit, the most
recent in the Ultra Dynamics range, features a 575mm diameter impeller and incorporates an axial flow pump and reverse and steering controls.
The unit has a maximum input power rating of 1268kW and is suitable for single, twin, triple or quad installations ranging from 23 to 160tonnes. Additionally, South Boats’ 17.5m
MPI Dorothea has incorporated Ultra Dynamics’ UJ452 waterjets into its propulsive armoury, powered by twin Scania DI16 43M 800 diesel engines, generating 588kW apiece. Serving the Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm off the UK coast, the vessel has been built to combine a maximised deck area, and internal room for turbine spares lockers, with a slim line design enabling the vessel
the locks at Grimsby. The UJ452 model has a single stage axial
flow design,
a 450mm diameter impeller and a maximum input power of 900kW. Research and development
is an
ongoing concern at Ultra Dynamics, says Lane, who claims that the group has several ongoing projects afoot, intended to improve the operator friendliness of the control systems. He
Ship & Boat International July/August 2011
f the offshore wind turbine service sector has granted a new lease of life to many previously ailing
The 18m South Boats catamaran MCS Zephyr has incorporated Ultra Dynamics’ UJ575 waterjets.
to work through
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