France: Navalu Adds 18 Meter Multiservice Cat to Its Fleet

French Builder NAVALU, located on the French Atlantic Coast, in the Vendée region, announces that it has added a new model, designated the NxS 18, to its NxS range of multiservice catamarans of now 15 metres, 18 metres, and 24 metres.

Navalu has already received what is believed to be the first order for a purpose built wind farm service vessel from a French builder for it’s NxS 24 metre WFSV.

In contrast to recent design trends of ever more sophisticated, and therefore more expensive designs, the NxS 18 continues with Navalu’s philosophy of “back to basics”. Navalu’s in-house design team have been able to produce the NxS 18, to meet the demands of wind farm service operators, who require speed, good sea-keeping, low fuel consumption, and maximum reliability.

The design goals were very simple: Reliability, Simplicity, Strong, Economical.

Economic operation is an extremely important factor in the design of these vessels. Export Sales Manager Marc de Rochefort says, “In a green industry such as wind power generation, it makes little sense to see service vessels that consume the huge amounts of fuel that are required to reach and maintain cruising speed.” The NxS 18 is designed with low resistance, fine entry hulls. The NxS 18 will operate more economically, will provide a better ride for crew, and will significantly reduce wave induced motion, including those while against wind towers.

The NxS 18 is Designed to Bureau Veritas Classification for Wind Farm Service Ships and Navalu will build to meet all other classifications as well. As with all of Navalu’s service vessels, the design allows for multiple use and in fact Navalu prides itself on the ability to design and build to a client’s requirements. “We don’t ask our client’s to adapt their needs to our boats”, says Marc de Rochefort, “We design and build boats that our clients need.”

In crew transfer mode, she will carry 12 passengers, with 2-3 crew. She has two crew cabins, changing area, full galley, head and shower, and ample stowage for personal gear. The wheelhouse has the usual array of electronics. Special attention was paid to power conservation with details such as LED for both interior and exterior lighting as well as search lights. In crew transport mode she will carry 12 technicians on suspension seats.

Navalu, a team of dedicated professionals delivering real world solutions, brings 30 years combined experience building high quality, functional, reliable, durable aluminium work boats, built to Bureau Veritas and other classification societies, delivered on time, at competitive prices.

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Offshore WIND staff, March 05, 2012; Image: navalu