UK: Alicat Prospers in Offshore Renewables Market

Alicat Workboats Ltd. has seen the launch of its sixth vessel since being set up just over two years ago, establishing itself as a market leader in providing state-of-the-art catamarans to the offshore renewables sector.

The high speed aluminium built vessels are specifically designed to quickly and comfortably transfer workers to offshore wind farms and provide a stable and manoeuvrable platform for the safe transfer of personnel to turbine towers for construction and maintenance work. The latest Alicat to be built is one of three that have been commissioned for use in building the London Array wind farm.

As well as being used to carry up to 12 passengers at speeds of up to 30 knots, the Alicat can be operated for a wide range of other activities such as diving, hydrographic surveying, marine mammal and bird surveys, and transfer of cargo and equipment.

 Steve Thacker, general manager at Alicat Workboats, said: “We’re immensely pleased with how quickly the business has taken off and the level of interest being shown in the Alicat. We believe its success is based on the high build quality, fuel efficiency, low whole life costs and the spacious and airy main cabin that provides a very comfortable ride, a key factor for when transfer trips can take a few hours.”

The Alicat is available in a number of options including 20m and 17m length versions, jet or propeller propulsion and a removable bow module that allows operators to exchange it to suit the tower/platform that the vessel is operating on. Additional stern fendering and an aft deck helm station can be provided for extended cargo transfer operation. The catamarans are plan approved to DNV standards.

Not only is Alicat Workboats builders of new vessels, they also have a mobile service and repair facility for all types of boat together with an undercover docking facility to enable vessels up to 25m in length to be repaired and maintained.

Based in Great Yarmouth, Alicat Workboats Ltd is a subsidiary of Gardline Shipping, a global operator in marine surveying, contracting and mobile satellite communications.