South Boats Special Projects Ltd. has recently commissioned another Offshore Wind Farm Service Vessel for Offshore Wind Power Marine Services Ltd. of Conwy, North Wales for a long term contract with Dong Energy on Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm.

‘Offshore Progress’ is a first of class South Catamaran 47/15m Alloy Wind Farm Service Vessel and measures 15.7m length overall, 6.3m beam overall, has a draft of 0.9m and has a lightship displacement (including fluids) of 23.5 tons. This new design follows on from the success of previous 14m vessels currently in service on Lynn & Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farms in the UK and Q7 Offshore Wind Farm off the Dutch coast.

Offshore Wind Power Marine Services Ltd. are a specialist supplier of Wind Farm Service Vessels and ‘Offshore Progress’ joins existing vessels ‘Offshore Provider’ and ‘Fastcat’ in the OWPMS fleet. OWPMS also have two further vessels on order with South Boats for 2009 delivery. The company have extensive experience operating their vessels at North Hoyle, Burbo Bank, Barrow and Q7 Offshore Wind Farms and already have several long term contracts in place for their existing and ordered vessels.

The newbuild is powered by twin Scania DI12 60M 600hp diesel engines driving ZF360 1.237:1 reduction ratio gearboxes coupled to Clarkes drive shafts coupled to Ultra Dynamics 451 water jet units. This package offers the vessel a sprint speed of over 24 knots and a 21 knot fast cruising speed at 2,000 rpm (combined 196ltrs/hr). At low cruising speeds (18 knots at 1,800 rpm) the vessel offers a frugal fuel consumption of 144 litres per hour. When loaded with 5 tons of calibrated ballast the vessel maintained a 20 knot sprint speed. Wheelhouse noise is less than 70dB at full speed, allowing easy conversation during passage.

An Ultra Dynamics Jetmaster control system is fitted to the vessel with bucket controls, multi axis joystick and back up control levers at the main helm position and a multi axis joystick to the flying bridge helm position.

South Boats will have three vessels on the floating pontoon at Seawork International 2008

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