Thai shipbuilder Marsun has teamed up with BAR Tech to build the BARTech 30 offshore wind support vessel for international customers, particularly the emerging Asian markets.
Established in 1980 in Samut Prakan, 30 kilometres from Bangkok Airport, Marsun has delivered more than 322 types of vessels to the Thai national and international navies, commercial marine, and yachting sectors.
It is well positioned to service the growing offshore wind sector in the Asia-Pacific, with industries burgeoning in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and more recently in India and Australia, BAR Tech said.
The BARTech 30’s ProA design and active hydrofoil system minimises vessel motion and fuel burn, it added.
In operations, this generates a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and total emissions, and improved stability across all sea states – including up to 70% reduced vertical accelerations – in comparison to traditional catamaran designs, according to the company.
These have been demonstrated during the deployment of the first BARTech 30, the Seacat Columbia (pictured), under the recently announced long term charter with Equinor on the Dudgeon wind farm.
Marsun chief executive officer Patrawin Chongvisal said: “Marsun is a highly experienced builder of commercial vessels for the marine and offshore energy industries, and we’re pleased to add BAR Tech to the range of vessels portfolio we offer our customers.
“We are promoting a wide range of the most innovative and advanced CTVs designs to Asian market.
“In cooperation with BAR Technologies, we recognised the opportunity to bring such a game-changing design to the South East Asian offshore wind markets, where we believe the vessel will be particularly operationally effective.
“We look forward to contributing to the vessel’s wider deployment, globally.”
John Cooper, chief executive officer at BAR Technologies added: “With the first BARTech 30 now deployed to a large scale offshore wind farm with Equinor in the North Sea, securing technician transfer to turbines in big sea states and saving the charterer fuel, emissions, and lost weather days when less capable boats couldn’t be utilised, we’re naturally keen to export this technology into emerging offshore wind markets.
“By partnering with a leading and highly reputable shipyard like Marsun, we look forward to contributing to the opportunity for new offshore wind markets to accelerate through legacy CTV designs and secure the latest in efficient vessel technologies in the delivery of new fixed and floating offshore wind projects.”