CTruk will organize a naming ceremony of its third SWATH offshore wind support vessel, the CWind Fulmar, on August 22 in Brightlingsea.
CTruk’s third 20m SWATH (small waterplane area twin hull) is nearing completion and the company is currently organising demos of this innovative advanced FRP composite vessel before she leaves for an imminent contract with leading offshore solutions provider CWind.
The company’s second SWATH, CWind Endurance , has been working since delivery as a crew transfer vessel supporting cable pull in work on Westermost Rough offshore wind farm (as part of CWind’a charter fleet).
Part-owner and skipper Stuart Richardson has received very positive feedback on her crew transfer capability: “We have been operating the SWATH on this 24-hour contract since June [2014] and are seriously impressed. Even in rough seas Endurance gives a smooth ride and is not moving on the turbine ladder.
“Passengers are commenting that they’ve not seen anything like it before. When pushing-on to the turbine this boat has the capabilities of a larger vessel but the manoeuvrability of a smaller one with the Rolls-Royce waterjets.”
With this latest SWATH, CTruk has introduced mixed-flow stainless-steel Rolls-Royce waterjets for a targeted 25% increased bollard pull. Coupled with the RR jets’ efficiencies it is envisaged that the optimised hull form will also give a boost of around 10% to the already notable fuel efficiency of these composite craft as well as increased speed.