Spanish outfit Marcelo Penna Engineering and Dutch offshore transfer equipment specialist Safeway have joined forces to design an intelligent service operation vessel (SOV).
The result of the collaboration is the DP2 MP625 SOV, which will deploy the recently launched Safeway Gannet 3D motion-compensated offshore access system.
The access system has features to ensure “zero impact bumpering” as well as a “hover mode” and roll compensation capability.
The SOV can remain at a wind farm, even in the roughest sea conditions.
Marcelo Penna Engineering CEO Marcelo Penna said: “For both our companies innovation was the key driver behind this partnership.
“Our common goal was to come up with a high-quality design and cutting-edge technology that would minimise construction and maintenance costs, maximise operational efficiency at sea and reduce any unplanned downtime.
“And we are confident that the MP625 SOV and Safeway’s Gannet gangway will become a popular combination in the demanding and fast-growing SOV market.”
The trimaran hull feature of the SOV gains extra value in case of high seas, as the reduction of speed is almost zero compared to a calm sea state.
Safeway CEO Wijnand van Aalst added: “Our Safeway Gannet 3D motion-compensated access system was developed in response to evolving requirements for fast, safe and efficient walk-to-work systems such as those being sought by Equinor and its partners for the massive offshore wind farms they plan to build on Dogger Bank.
“Vessel and gangway must be able to connect and transfer personnel and equipment in a significant wave height of 3.5 metres, while the SOV must also be more compact than those built to date for services in the North Sea.”
With a length of only 64m the MP625 is around 20m smaller than SOVs built to date.
In addition the vessel will be equipped with three diesel engines each of them being coupled with two electric engines offering a hybrid solution and a total output power of 4.4MW.
By equipping the SOV with lithium batteries, the vessel will be capable of remaining in DP for up to 12 hours in silent mode.