Strategic Marine (S) Pte Ltd has announced its latest offshore fast crew boat, a 38m extra fast crew transfer catamaran vessel (FCTV). The new vessel has been designed in collaboration with One2Three naval architects in Sydney Australia, incorporating direct feedback from customers.
Greg Daniel, Technical Manager of Strategic Marine, said: “Our offshore customers are increasingly asking for faster transfers but still want to reduce their costs. Often helicopters are used but this is expensive and limited to small numbers (only about 10 crew at any one time). The new Strategic FCTV can provide fast transit for 80 passengers and crew, to and from offshore installations, travelling at 40 knots per hour, powered by four CAT C32 engines. This new vessel offers a much more cost effective, rapid transfer alternative and is suitable for longer distances. We are confident that it will surpass our customers’ expectations, wherever they are in the world.”
The actual physical transfer of the crew to the offshore installation has been considered too. The vessel can be fitted with a motion compensated gangway offering ‘walk to work’ safe transfer. Alternatively, the stern and the bow of the vessel are different heights above the water, so if the crew need to do a swing rope transfer, they can choose the best option.
The vessel has been designed with a large open deck which covers a third of the vessel length to give space for maneuvers. The area can also be fitted with a basket transfer crane which winches crew up and down to the offshore installation if necessary.
The seating and accommodation area has been arranged to be in the midships of the vessels to reduce slamming and pitching motion, ensuring that those travelling on board are as comfortable as possible.
The FCTV has a resilient mounted superstructure which sits on a rubber base to insulate the passenger accommodation from noise. As you would expect the engine is very noisy especially when travelling at high speeds and with big waves, but this superstructure insulates the passenger space, dramatically reducing vibrations, making it much quieter and calmer for passengers onboard.
The FCTV is also fitted with water jets which are much quieter than propellors, very efficient at high speeds, and particularly maneuverable which is necessary up close to an offshore installation.
The new vessel has the option for a biosafe notation and compared to helicopter transport it has a significantly lower fuel consumption saving fuel and reduced fuel consumption on a cost per head basis compared with a helicopter.
Strategic will also apply a silicone antifouling coating to the FCTV. The company has been trialing the coating which is designed for fast moving vessels, and had has found it to be exceptionally effective, stopping biofilm from adhering to the vessel hull with no biocide leaching into the water.
This is the latest innovative vessel to be announced by Strategic Marine, the company has an established reputation for building a range of tailored quality vessels for the offshore and gas market, with 73 FCB’s delivered and a further six currently under construction and 27 CTVs with another six under construction.
Dimensions
| Length Overall | 38.6 metres |
| Beam Moulded | 9.20 metres |
| Depth Moulded | 3.53 metres |
| Hull Baseline Design Draft (approx.) | 1.40 metres |
| GRT (Approx.) | 295 |
Cargo
| Max Deadweight | 55 Tonnes Deadweight |
| Clear Deck Area | 80m2 |
| Deck Loading Capacity | 2.0 Tonnes/m2 |
| Offshore Industrial Personnel | 80 |
| Cabins/Berths | 5 / 10 |
| Crew Mess | 1 |
Performance
The vessel will be cable of achieving the following performance in calm water (up to sea state 2):
Service Speed 40 knots + (TBC) @ 90% MCR - based on 25 Dead Weight Tonnes (DWT)
Full Speed 41.3 knots + (TBC) @ 100% MCR - based on 25 Dead Weight Tonnes (DWT)
The vessel's design provides for multiple propulsion and hybrid options.
The standard propulsion package consists of CAT C32 engines producing 1,081kW (1,450hp) @ 2,300rpm but Strategic Marine is also able to cater for the installation of a range of other systems. A recent deal with authorised Caterpillar dealer PT Trakindo Utama Singapore Branch for 50 units ensures engine supply for clients amid current global supply chain issues.
"The speed, efficiency and versatility of our new 38m FCTV design will offer clients a product to meet all our client’s needs cost-effectively and safely," said Strategic Marine Group’s Hans Randklev, General Manager Commercial.
Responding to clients' needs is a key value of Strategic Marine and this new design is its answer to the question of how to displace helicopters in crew transfer operations in the long run, for both efficiency and cost-savings.
"Strategic Marine is proud to launch a new design that will bridge a gap for today's operators and fill a critical void in the market," added Mr Randklev.
In the operating environment of the future, ESG considerations and cost consciousness will become increasingly important factors for operators. There is a vital need for builders to offer products that can meet these demands. Strategic Marine's 38m FCTV is a design that not only meets current needs but anticipates future industry requirements.
Alongside shipbuilding, Strategic Marine provides service and maintenance, fabrication and engineering, marine logistics services and financial services and solutions for its products – providing a turnkey, end-to-end solution for its clients.
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