MPI Workboats Takes Over New Crew Transfer Vessel from South Boats, UK

South Boats Special Projects Ltd. announced the launch and commissioning of its 56th offshore wind farm crew transfer vessel, ‘MPI Cardenio’. The vessel is a fourth of class South Catamaran 17m and is the first of a two boat order from MPI Workboats Ltd. to be delivered. This vessel compliments the six wind farm vessels already built for MPI Workboats Ltd. by South Boats.

The South Catamaran 17m is a new model in the South Boats range designed to maximise deck area and sea-keeping but with specific overall dimensions to ensure that the vessels are capable of working through the locks at Grimsby. To achieve this, the ‘MPI Cardenio’ has an LOA of 17.5m, Beam of 6.3m, Draught of 0.95m and a lightship displacement of 33 tonnes.

The deck and topside structure is extended aft over the water jets to provide full protection in confined operating areas. The vessel is configured with an aft of centre wheelhouse providing a 30m2 forward deck capable of carrying up to 5 tonnes of construction and O&M equipment, coupled to a 24m2 aft deck capable of carrying a further 2 tonnes of equipment.

Powered by twin Scania DI16 43M 800mhp diesel engines and coupled to Ultra Dynamics UJ452 water jet units the vessel achieved a sprint speed of 24 knots and is capable of cruising at speeds in excess of 20 knots in departure condition. A sophisticated hydraulics system driven by both Twin Disc gearboxes powers a Palfinger PK4501M fully folding knuckle boom crane forward, 5 bar 30,000 litre per hour fire pump, 1.5 tonne hydraulic capstan, 210 bar 30 litre per minute pressure washer system and a 3.5tm3 8 bar 40m fuel transfer system. The integrated system offers full redundancy from two supplies.

In addition, this vessel also has an integral BETA Marine 3 Phase 148kva generator and R. Baker transformer capable of connecting 690V 4 Star Delta to the wind turbine generator for a complete commissioning solution. An ONAN 9kW 230V AC generator set supplies power to the vessels ring main and AC services.

This latest generation vessel has a totally reworked interior arrangement with the entrance door aft giving plenty of space for changing with a hanging area and turbine spares lockers. Forward there are six crew seats to port arranged as three rows of two with the centre row facing aft with a table between and mirrored to stbd. A twin screen entertainment system is fitted with TV/DVD and forward looking cameras. The bridge has a fully integrated Furuno Navnet 3D electronic suite comprising twin radars, twin chart plotters, video sounder, fully recording CCTV, low light camera, AIS, satellite compass, twin DSC radio’s, load hailer, GPS and auto pilot. The bridge has heated forward screens to eliminate misting and overhead windows to give clear view of the transition piece.All windows in the vessel are fully double glazed to eliminate condensation to provide the technicians with clear visibility out of the vessel and free standing air intake and air extraction systems for the machinery spaces and high tech anti noise and vibration matting minimise noise and vibration to the passenger saloon areas.

‘MPI Cardenio’ has joined her sister vessels ‘MPI Dorothea’ and ‘MPI Dulcinea’ along with ‘MPI Sancho Panza’ on the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm.

South Boats continues to build 25 wind farm crew transfer vessels per annum and the new generation 13m, 16m, 17m, 19m, 24m and 30m designs are now populating the range. All of the new generation vessels feature modular superstructures, integrated systems, options for secondary access systems and new bow fender system. With 5 years experiencing building 56 wind farm vessels for 15 operators, having worked on over 25 projects there is no doubt that South Boats catamarans remain the vessel of industry choice.