Incat Crowther designs wave piercer crew boat

Incat Crowther, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia, says it has been contracted to design an innovative 28 m wave piercing catamaran crew boat to support offshore oil and gas operations.

The vessel is being developed in conjunction with Topaz Shipbuilding, which has shipyards in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, for a large petroleum firm.

Incat Crowther proposed a wave piercing platform in response to a challenging combination of operational requirements.

The first challenge was to balance a restriction on beam with a requirement to locate an oil spill recovery container transversely on the aft deck. The solution was to have upright topsides aft, like a traditional catamaran. The operators also required a monohull shaped bow that interfaced cleanly with the rig structure, whilst being well clear in all other areas to avoid risk of collisions and injuries. The wave piercer's center bow is an ideal solution to this requirement. To eliminate the risk of damage to the forepeaks or having them hang up on the rig structure, the vessel's hull bows have been configured so that they do not extend beyond the outline of the foredeck.

The result is a platform that offers excellent functionality, whilst retaining the wave piercer's offshore capabilities.

The vessel features a large aft-deck with container mounts, Effer 155 m deck crane and more than 50 square meters of usable deck space.

Passenger access is via side gates at the forward end of the cargo deck. This transverse passenger thoroughfare is protected from the cargo space by large cargo barriers, allowing passengers and cargo to be loaded concurrently in a safe and efficient manner.

The vessel will be powered by a pair of Caterpillar C32 Acert engines, each producing 1,193 kW at 2100 rpm. The engines will drive Hamilton HM651 waterjets. The vessel's service speed will be 28 knots, with a maximum speed of 30 knots.

The port main engine will turn a FFS 250x350HD FiFi pump that feeds a foredeck mounted fire monitor.

TECHNICAL

Length Overall: 27.6 m

Length Waterline: 23.0 m

Beam: 7.5 m

Draft Hull: 1.4 m

Depth: 3.2 m

Fuel: 10,000 liters

Fresh Water: 5,000 liters

Sullage: 5,000 liters

Service Speed: 28 knots

Maximum Speed: 30 knots

Main Engines: 2 x Caterpillar C32 Acert D Rating

Installed Power: 2 x 1193kW @2100rpm

Propulsion: 2 x Hamilton HM651 Waterjets

Generators: 2 x Caterpillar C2.2

Construction Material: Marine Grade Aluminum

Flag: UAE

Class: DVN