Catamaran designs from New Zealand’s Teknicraft are now well known in the U.S., especially for survey work and as passenger vessels. Now Teknicraft and its exclusive North American builder, All American Marine in Bellingham, Wash., want to add offshore wind farm support vessels to that mix.
In March, Joe Hudspeth, All American’s vice president of business development, participated in the Oceanology International conference in London where Teknicraft debuted a new offshore wind farm support catamaran. Called the MO1, the 25-meter (83') catamaran was purpose-built in Scotland for offshore wind farm work. The owner/operator is Mainprize Offshore Ltd. of Scarborough, U.K.
MO1 can pack 40 metric tons of cargo and transport 12 passengers. With two 1,600-hp Cats, the Teknicraft cat cruises at 25 knots, according to Hudspeth. The MO1 also features Teknicraft’s symmetrical bow and asymmetrical tunnel and an adjustable hydrofoil. “The hydrofoil can be adjusted to trim the boat to respond to cargo weight,” said Hudspeth. And with tankage for over 9,500 gals. of fuel, part of that cargo might be diesel fuel.
“Another innovation on this boat is the use of wave-piercing bows,” he said. “It helps to knock down the waves before hitting the tunnel.”
Hudspeth also visited the London Array offshore wind farm while in the U.K. And while seeing all the spinning wind turbines was impressive, he was especially taken with the wind farm support fleet. “It’s pretty miraculous to see an entire harbor filled with aluminum catamarans.”
Hudspeth said it takes about one catamaran to support every 20 offshore turbines, so a farm of 100 turbines requires five boats.
At the moment, the U.S. does not have any operational offshore wind farms, but Hudspeth said permits have been granted for installations off Massachusetts and Rhode Island. “Getting the funding and selling all the power, which must be done first, has to be in place before going forward,” said Hudspeth.
“As a boatbuilder, it makes a lot of sense to be looking ahead because wind farm development is going to create a whole new market segment. It will really develop the short-sea shipping fleet, if you will, for Jones Act boats running supplies and personnel out to the wind farms.” — Bruce Buls
