The second of Damen’s Accommodation Support Vessels (ASV) 9020 has been handed over to Bibby Marine Services at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. Once the Bibby WaveMaster Horizon arrives in the North Sea, it will begin maintenance work on two German offshore wind farms.

The build of the vessel began in 2014 alongside that of its sistership, the Bibby WaveMaster 1, in anticipation of future demand. When Bibby Marine Services and Siemens Gamesa confirmed their maintenance contract for the two EnBW and Enbridge-owned windfarms – Hohe See and Albatros – in the German part of the North Sea at the end of 2017, Damen continued construction.

The keel of the Bibby Wavemaster Horizon (construction number 553021, imo 9856957) was eventually laid on 13 April 2018. The launch in Galati followed on 29 March. Delivery was originally planned for August, but has now become October.

Accommodation of Maintenance Teams

The 90-metre ASV 9020 combines walk-to-work capabilities with an innovative interior and comprehensive features that together ensure maximum efficiency in accommodating and deploying multiple maintenance teams. DP2 and an innovative hull ensure a wide window of operability and excellent seakeeping.

The accommodation can be flexibly arranged for 45 technicians in single cabins equipped with internet, telephone and satellite TV, and can be expanded if necessary with another thirty beds. The crew consists of fifteen seafarers.

Particulars of the ASV 9020

The data from the SOV 9020 are: 6241 gross tonnage, 1873 net tonnage, 2250 deadweight – length over all (between load lines) x width x height (dg) = 89.65 (84.40) x 20.29 x 8.00 (4.65) metres. The working deck has a free surface area of 425 square metres and a capacity of up to 600 tonnes of cargo or eleven 20-feet containers. In addition, there is a space below deck for six 20-feet containers.

The Bibby WaveMaster Horizon is equipped with a motion compensated knuckleboom crane with a lifting capacity of up to 5 tonnes and 2 tonnes at 27.5 metres. The helicopter deck is located on the forward deck for helicopters with a take-off weight of up to 12 tonnes.

The SOV 9020 is Damen’s own design. Both the Bibby WaveMaster 1 and Bibby WaveMaster Horizon were built under DNV-GL class.

Propulsion and Power

The energy is supplied by two Caterpillar diesel generators, type 3516, of 2265 kilowatts each at 1800 rotations per minute, and two Caterpillar diesel generators, type C32, of 952 kilowatts each. They drive two adjustable rudder propellers in nozzles of 2150 kilowatts each. The ship reaches a speed of 13 knots. A retractable bow propeller has a power of 860 kilowatts and two tunnel thrusters, 2 x 860 kilowatts. The bunker capacity is 545 square metres.