standing experience than is the case with London’s tube network. While increased onboard ergonomics


may have become something of a trendy catchphrase in the marine industry, vastly reduced slamming and rolling motion is a serious must when dealing with offshore wind farm support vessels, as Simpson tells Ship & Boat International: “If you have technicians becoming sea-sick on the way over to the turbines, it’s going to take them a while before they’re able to function – you can’t just drop them onto the turbine and expect them to get to work aſter being ill.” Similarly, the cabin’s HVAC system provides welcome respite from the cold as we set off from shore for a brief display of CWind Athenia’s handling capabilities, while the vessel’s twin Cummins QSM11 main diesel engines provide little to no intrusion on conversation. Te passenger suspension seating is augmented by a table across each facing row of seats, and the wheelhouse also features internal storage lockers, a bank full of Simrad’s electronic navigation and communications solutions, heated windows and the provision of a small kitchen area and worktop.


Intuitive controls The vessel has been fitted with two Rolls-Royce FFRR 41 waterjets, primarily selected by the yard due to the option of using the manufacturer’s Vector Stick thrust control handles, Andy White, CTruk Boats chairman,


comments. “Having propulsive controls that are intuitive for the pilot to use is a key safety feature,” he says. Te right-hand lever provides directional control, while the leſt-hand lever provides the means to control engine RPM and move forwards and backwards. Far be it from Ship & Boat International to dabble in product endorsement, but the Vector Stick system really does make controlling the vessel a remarkably simplistic venture – even enabling your humble editor to hop into the pilot’s seat and successfully guide CWind Athenia around a series of buoys in the River Colne, at a speed of approximately 25knots. Tis intuitive system is particularly vital when the pilot is attempting to dock the vessel at the turbine in rough seas, particularly given the ability to gently nudge the catamaran sideways-on in the water. Another prime consideration is CWind


Athenia’s ability to cope with a man overboard (MOB) scenario. White says: “Tese vessels are designed for a maximum crew of two but, realistically, there may oſten be just one pilot present. If somebody should happen to go overboard, it would be impossible to coordinate a rescue attempt from the wheelhouse, single-handedly – the pilot can’t simultaneously be in the wheelhouse, getting the vessel alongside and attempting to recover the MOB.” With this in mind, CWind Athenia has been fitted with a deck-based control unit, identical to the bridge set-up within the cabin, enabling the pilot to control the


A deck-based control unit enables the pilot to steer the boat from the deck, enabling him to undertake MOB recovery attempts when operating solo.


vessel whilst standing on the deck allowing him and to draw the vessel alongside the casualty, before attempting rescue courtesy of a hydraulic winch situated aſt. Te vessel is also capable of achieving a crash stop of approximately 18-20m, meaning that, in the event of a MOB situation, the pilot can swing into action as soon as possible. By operating the vessel from the side of the rear deck, the pilot also has greater visibility when attempting to edge the vessel towards the MOB, to prevent accidentally hitting the casualty. “We conducted sea trials, in 1.5m seas, using a dummy in the water to simulate a MOB,” says White, “and the process of getting to the dummy and winching it back on board took approximately four minutes.” Te design of the vessel also accounts


for an increased fuel capacity in comparison to conventional catamarans of this type. “While most cats carry approximately 8000litres, CWind Athenia can accommodate 16,000litres of fuel oil,” White explains. “Tis could come in useful if technicians at the turbine farm require fuelling for machinery or equipment; we can simply transfer the fuel they need from the vessel.” Te vessel also features a fresh water capacity of 300litres. Te incorporation of CTruk Boats’ soon-to-be- patented Vollkorf bow fendering system is also intended to simplify the process of pushing on to the turbine, granting the pilot more scope when it comes to docking at the wind farm array, particularly if another wind farm support vessel is also pushing on at the same time. Leaving the matter of returning to shore


in the hands of a qualified pilot, we make our way back to the yard to obtain more information on CTruk Boats’ forthcoming SWATH vessel. Tis debutante will feature the same flexibly mounted wheelhouse design as the CTruk 20T MPC class, adding four ballast tanks, each holding 2.3tonnes, and featuring an overall capacity for 16 people, comprising four members of crew and 12 passengers. As White pointed out in 2011, the next three to five years look set to contain what could be the offshore wind farm sector’s peak phase, with massive opportunities for charter contracts and new vessel orders to handle the work required. In this respect, CTruk Boats appears to be in a good position to meet this demand, with a series of safe, easy-to-operate and multipurpose vessels. SBI


Ship & Boat International March/April 2012 39


Feature 4


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