Alewijnse has expanded its collaboration with offshore service provider Windcat Workboats by securing a contract for the complete electrical system integration of four new offshore Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs). The vessels are being built at Dok- en Scheepsbouw Woudsend and Neptune Shipyards.
CTVs are used for transporting personnel and materials to offshore wind farms in the North Sea. Together, Windcat and Alewijnse have delivered 45 CTVs over a period of sixteen years.
Now, four new vessels are on the way. Windcat 58, 62, and 63 are being built at Neptune Shipyards in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, while Windcat 61 is docked at Dok- en Scheepsbouw Woudsend. Alewijnse is supplying the complete electrical installation on board, including control consoles and alarm and monitoring systems. Additionally, the company is assisting the shipyard with the production and installation of aluminium cable trays and foundations.
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Lithium-Ion batteries
An important innovation in Windcat vessels 40 to 56 is the integration of Lithium-Ion batteries, which contribute to more sustainable energy management due to their high energy density. From Windcat 57 onwards, two generators are installed on board for an even more robust energy supply.
The Windcat vessels Hydrocat 48 and 55 are the world’s first hydrogen-powered CTVs, achieving a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.
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Partnering with shipyards
Alewijnse has successfully collaborated with Dok- en Scheepsbouw Woudsend for many years. Alewijnse project manager Bertran Smit: ‘We have been working at this shipyard since 2009 for the new build and refit of Windcat vessels. The projects run smoothly for all parties involved.’
Regarding the partnership with Neptune Shipyards, Alewijnse project manager Eef Uittenbogaard states: ‘Neptune Shipyards is a large shipyard with the capacity to build multiple CTVs simultaneously. Alewijnse is the ideal partner for this, thanks to our extensive experience with the technology on these vessels. We have now been working together successfully for six months and are proud of this new step towards further sustainability and optimisation of offshore transport in the wind energy sector.’
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Windcat fleet
Windcat operates a fleet of more than forty small, fast catamarans in various models, active in the waters of Northwest Europe, from England to Denmark and Germany. As wind farms are being constructed further offshore, Windcat has also started building Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs), designed to remain in an offshore wind farm for extended periods and provide safe and comfortable accommodation for up to 120 technicians.
Picture by Alewijnse.
