Crewboat operator’s rebirth starts with its name

Aesen 107 and Aesen 108 were designed in close collaboration with Australia’s Southerly Designs, incorporating a proven hull form to enhance fuel efficiency, seakeeping performance, and environmental sustainability. With a top speed of 29 knots, the vessels feature a proven hull design that enhances fuel efficiency, seakeeping performance, and environmental sustainability. Each vessel accommodates up to 80 personnel in enhanced comfort seating and features strengthened decks to support flexible cargo configurations. Additionally, they are prepared for future integration of walk-to-work or motion-compensated gangway systems, offering increased adaptability for evolving offshore requirements.

“A stable business that generates about 99% utilisation”

Both vessels are scheduled to start operating in the Middle East in Q4 2025.

These two new FCBs bring Aesenʼs total new crew vessel acquisitions to 12 over the past two years with at least four more under construction, as part of its ongoing fleet renewal and long-term growth strategy.

Another remit for the company is security escort services in the Middle East and Africa. To serve this market, a crewboat is modified, with interior cabin seating areas converted to accommodation spaces for security personnel, ballistic protection added to its superstructure, citadel protection for the crew and gun mounts with machine guns. These vessels can also offer offshore support, rescue and response.

Enter the trimaran

Besides crew mobility and security escort, Mr Ang said a third type of offshore crew transfer provided by the company is a “limousine service”, offering a high-level of comfort and speed for personnel working offshore. This is particularly of interest in regions such as southeast Asia, mainly in Malaysia and Thailand, where oil producers are looking to replace helicopter services with less expensive high-speed crewboats.

One of those is Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, which is long-time client of Aesen. The two parties are collaborating on developing an alternative offshore crew transfer solution.

“Helicopter transportation is very expensive - not just in terms of fuel costs, but its daily charter and utilisation rate as well,” explained Mr Ang. “But what type of vessel would be suitable for this service?” Aesen investigated several options, initially choosing on a surface-effect ship (SES) design. But some models can be expensive to build, maintain and operate, he noted.

Chevron finally settled on a trimaran semi-SWATH hull design that has been well proven and tested as a crew transfer vessel (CTV) in operation in Taiwan. The country’s sea conditions can be harsh. But because of its reduced heave, pitch and roll, as well as slamming, the SWATH hull form offers the crew and passengers improved comfort and less fatigue.

Aesen is building a larger 36-m, 90-passenger trimaran semi-SWATH CTV in co-operation with its Thai joint venture partner, Uni-Wise Offshore. Designed with waterjet propulsion, the Wind Flyer Trimaran Fast Crewboat will be capable of economical speeds of 34 knots. Enhanced by motion-damping technology, the Wind Flyer is anticipated to provide a smoother, stable ride even in wave conditions of up to 2.5 m.

“In March, we are going to conduct a sea trial. Once it’s tested, then we’ll build a second one for our clients in Malaysia, Thailand, the Middle East and the renewable sectors,” said Mr Ang. He has hopes to someday build this type of vessel for PTTEP and Petronas. Such high-spec CTVs can cost twice as much as a traditional crewboat, Mr Ang noted. “We always have a hurdle. In this kind of world, we will always face challenges to justify the payback with the high and rising newbuild cost,” observed Mr Ang.