Targeting offshore renewables market, Sulmara charters and upgrades ERRV

The survey company is undertaking a substantial refit of the former emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV), including the installation of class-leading survey equipment, a subsea crane with active-heave compensation, and the creation of extra bed space.

The vessel is likely to commence activities for Sulmara in late Q1 2024 and will initially operate on projects across Europe.

Sulmara chief executive Kevin McBarron said the decision to repurpose an emergency response rescue vessel aligns with Sulmara’s ambition to deliver work for clients that has as little an impact on the environment as possible. 

“This deal is a step change for Sulmara as we continue to challenge conventions and find new ways of working to increase our capabilities and further support our clients in their projects and achieving their net-zero targets,” said Mr McBarron.

“Sulmara has proven the capabilities of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for certain offshore survey tasks and our vision is for their use to be widespread in the industry, but we recognise the current limitations of the technology.

“However, USVs are not the answer to all of our clients’ needs and there is still a place for conventional ships. In partnering with Atlantic Offshore, we can bring a vessel that is as fuel efficient and environmentally friendly as possible to the market. 

“We had opportunities to charter older, less efficient vessels, but for our first long-term charter vessel that would not align with our company vision, and we wanted to make the right choice. 

“We will be tracking the efficiency of the vessel throughout 2024, comparing emissions and fuel burn to existing and older assets in an effort to highlight the sustainability benefits of our solutions to both our clients and the wider industry.”
Built in 2014, Ocean Marlin has ample deck space for a range of equipment and accommodation for 28 Sulmara and client personnel.

“Modern, environmentally friendly vessels to carry out this type of work are in short supply, and we are fortunate to have partnered with an agile organisation like Atlantic Offshore,” said Mr McBarron. 

“The multi-million-pound upgrade to the vessel includes installation of work-class and observation-class vehicles to complement a 34-tonne AHC crane and a full survey and positioning spread, as well as further engineering upgrades to support the deployment of a wide range of fixed and towed equipment.

“We want the industry to reassess how it approaches all aspects of a project to maximise the potential environmental and commercial benefits. This design is known for its superior seakeeping abilities in adverse weather conditions, further maximising operational windows and reducing the duration of offshore projects. This is a big part of why we are refitting Ocean Marlin, and we look forward to bringing this advanced vessel type to the renewables market.”