BMT Group Ltd (BMT), the international design, engineering and risk management consultancy, has won a contract to design three crew transfer vessels (CTVs) which will operate on US East Coast offshore wind farms.
The 27-metre CTVs will feature a lightweight Z-bow hull form to improve seakeeping characteristics as well as offer very high efficiency which will reduce emissions, the company stated.
The CTVs will utilise “a proven latest generation” Active Fender System (AFS), which was designed and customised by BMT, to facilitate both monopile and conventional landing tube transfers. The AFS, placed on the bow of the vessels, operates as a suspension system that reduces impact loads and dampens the initial engagements with the turbine power.
Powered by quad Volvo IPS 900, the vessels will be able to deliver speed performance reaching up to 26 knots, combined with bollard thrust in excess of 15 tonnes, the company claims.
According to BMT, the vessels have also been designed to maximize crew and passenger comfort with the layout offering space for 24 technicians.
The vessels were designed to carry and deliver cargo as well, with a large foredeck area to accommodate high volumes of goods.
The three CTVs will be built by Senesco, at North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
Back in May 2019, BMT was awarded a contract to design two CTVs to be deployed for Windserve Marine to service Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project in the US.