Atlantic Marine’s Atlantic Cougar has successfully docked in the North Sea with a wind turbine base, using her new bow landing system, coming alongside a transition piece (TP) with 2 knots of current on the beam.
This exceptional vessel, with her joystick control and DP0 system can maneuver safely in currents over 2 knots, winds up to 20+ knots and wave height of up to 1.5m. Her bow landing system has a unique cushion fender system that removes the entire ‘shock’ load of a traditional crew transfer vessel (CTV) docking onto the TP ladders.
This allows a 230-ton vessel with accommodation for 18 people, to dock and push onto the TP whilst not exceeding a load of 5-6 tons at the time and point of touch.
The loads are monitored by a load cell read-out on the bridge and the information is constantly available to the captain as he uses her powerful CP props and bow/stern thrusters under fingertip joystick control to position the vessel accurately and safely onto the TP or any offshore structure.
This ability, combined with the survey areas, crane and hydraulic A-frame make this a unique light draft / shallow water vessel capable of nearshore and offshore multirole operations.
Atlantic Wind has also been upgraded, with 8 new cabins (16 beds), all with en-suite facilities. The ship can now offer offshore accommodation for up to 46 people, as well as her existing geophysical survey capability and multirole offshore support.
Press release, March 24, 2014; Image: Atlantic Marine