Seacat Services to acquire two BARTech 30 crew transfer vessels

Build and construction of the first vessel is expected to be completed by Q1 2022.

The new BARTech 30 is a green vessel design and will work in tandem with Seacat’s existing fleet of vessels. The new vessels will be named Seacat Columbia and Seacat Cambria.

BAR Technologies and Chartwell Marine focused on creating fuel efficiency through a highly optimised multi-hull design, using BAR Technologies’ patented Foil Optimised Stability System (FOSS).

The designers say the new hullform will reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 600 tonnes per annum if the vessel is working a 12-hour shift, compared to a conventional design.

They refer to the new CTVs as ‘low emission vehicles’ (LEVs) , with total emissions 30% lower than conventional CTV designs.

They said the improvements also come at no sacrifice to operational performance. With the FOSS, the vessel’s ability to reduce pitch and roll while lowering vertical acceleration in 2.5 m wave heights will enable greater comfort during transit and improve push on performance during operations.

Seacat Services managing director Ian Baylis said, “After reviewing the latest options on the market, the BARTech 30 is the first one that has met and exceeded all of our requirements, embracing efficiency gains through design, instead of relying exclusively on hybrid propulsion. Adding this vessel to our existing fleet of OSVs is a simple, effective way to get ahead on emissions reduction without interrupting our current work scope.”

BAR Technologies chief executive John Cooper said, “Innovative vessel design and technologies are vital to supporting the offshore wind and maritime sectors. Seacat has a long history of setting the benchmark for operational best practice and we are delighted to help them continue to refine their winning formula, while creating a new fuel efficiency standard. OEMs have consistently told us they want to reduce emissions in the supply chain, so we are proud to be delivering to brief.”

Chartwell Marine managing director Andy Page said, “Every step forward in vessel design and efficiency must be taken with the needs of the end user in mind. The BARTech 30 capitalises directly on operational feedback from leading firms like Seacat Services to ensure that emissions reduction is effectively realised – without being at the expense of technical capability and the service provided to offshore windfarms.”

The BARTech 30 design has recently been awarded approval in principle from the American Bureau of Shipping, providing another class-certified, Jones Act compliant option for vessel operators looking to enter the US offshore wind space.