SWATH tender

Bard Group in Germany recently received Natalia Bekker, a vessel claimed to be the first wind turbine tender with a small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH). The group placed an order for the 25m specialised maintenance and supply vessel in 2008 and was built by Abeking & Rasmussen in Germany. The vessel is now in service.

Abeking & Rasmussen notes that high sea states can make boarding an offshore structure a difficult and dangerous task, so a special fender system has been installed on the bow of the vessel to increase damping motions. Natalia Bekker’s design allows it to be permanently stationed at an offshore windfarm, allowing a team of service personnel to provide 24/7 maintenance and repair.

The windfarm tender marks a new chapter in the development of the SWATH@A&R concept. It is the 11th vessel of this design built to date, but the first for use at windfarms.

Since 1999 several vessels with lengths of 25m, 40m, 50m and 60m have been built that use the SWATH concept, including pilot tenders and a privately owned motor yacht. SWATH@A&R technology was also chosen by the Latvian Navy for a series of patrol vessels, and the Estonian waterways authority also opted for a hydrographic research vessel with a SWATH@A&R hullform.

Abeking & Rasmussen says Natalia Bekker will be able to transport personnel in a significant wave height of up to 3.5m and enable them to board a wind turbine in a significant wave height of up to 2.5m. This ensures maximum possible access to turbines. OSJ