ESNA, a Norwegian designer of air cushioned catamarans and Surface Effect Ships (SES), has received grants totalling NOK 3.5 million (approx. EUR 370,000) to develop the next generation SES for offshore service operations.
ESNA received a NOK 3 million grant from the Regional Research Council Agder, and a NOK 500,000 grant from Sørlandet Knowledge Foundation.
The grants run from 2016 through 2018 and involve collaboration with the local university UiA (University of Agder) in Grimstad/Kristiansand, NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) in Trondheim and the highly specialized CFD/FEM consultant cDynamics.
“The grants provide the economical freedom we need to further develop vessel transfer and access technologies for offshore windfarms both further offshore and nearshore. We are currently working with new and innovative ideas we hope to present to the market soon,” said ESNA’s co-founder and naval architect Nere G Skomedal.
“This financial input also allows us to strengthen our team, so that we are now on the search for a new colleague.”
Back in October 2015, ESNA launched an air cushioned catamaran for offshore wind crew transfers called the Tern. The vessel has a maximum service speed of above 40 knots in calm sea, it can have a draught of less than 1m, and can transfer personnel safely in sea states above 2m significant wave height, the company said in a release.