Norway: Umoe to Build First UM Wave Craft

Umoe Mandal AS has signed contract for the first UM Wave Craft – the next generation offshore wind service vessel. Customer is Umoe AS. The vessel will be delivered January 2015.

The vessel concept is entirely developed by Umoe Mandal. It is based on the same Surface Effect Ship technology that has brought the Oksøy- and Skjold-class from Umoe Mandal, where up to 80% of the vessel weight is lifted by an air cushion. The new idea is to use the same air cushion to reduce wave induced motion when accessing an offshore wind turbine. This allows transfer of personnel and cargo in larger waves than possible with current solutions. The technology also offers unique high vessel speed of over 40kn, where the air cushion damps motions, providing a very smooth ride. This improves over-all efficiency of turbine maintenance.

The development of the vessel started in 2011 and has been funded by the Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator, the Norwegian Research Council, RFFAgder and Innovation Norway. Performance (both turbine performance, speed and seakeeping) has been demonstrated in an extensive model test program. With confirmed performance for the first vessel Umoe Mandal anticipates a need of more than 5 vessels a year for the European offshore wind market.

With this contract Umoe Mandal has filled the order book for 2014 and is looking for new employees. The need is especially composite operators and structural and mechanical designers.

[mappress]

Press release, October 22, 2013; Image: um