Edison Chouest building mini-CTV/daughter craft for Ørsted and Eversource

The mini CTV was designed by Chartwell Marine in the UK and is set to begin operating mid-2024, working for Ørsted and US-based joint venture partner, Eversource Energy.

The mini CTV will operate as a daughter craft from ECO Edison, the first American-built service operation vessel (SOV) and will be deployed on the Revolution Wind, South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind offshore windfarms in the northeast US, under development by the joint venture.

Building commenced in July 2023 at Edison Chouest’s Louisiana shipyard, drawing components from US suppliers, using Chartwell’s innovative design. ECO will manage the entire pipeline of construction and operation, supported by the incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Chartwell’s design will use Volvo Penta IPS propulsion, with forward-facing, twin counter-rotating propellers with an individually steerable IPS under the hull. The 12-m mini-CTV has a capacity of up to 12 people and is designed to provide comfortable and efficient access to turbines, vessels and other project infrastructure.

Working closely with Ørsted throughout the design process, Chartwell conducted model testing in January 2023 to simulate and adapt to the specifications of the wind turbines that will be installed at the northeast US project sites.

Considerations were also made to facilitate Ørsted’s ‘Get Up Safe’ system, a motion-compensated hoist that enables technicians to safely transfer between small moving vessels and offshore wind turbines without a ladder.