Finnish shipbuilder Uudenkaupungin Työvene has won an order for three hybrid-ready SWATH CTVs from the Scottish company Maritime Craft Services.
According to Työvene, this order marks the shipbuilder’s entry into the rapidly growing offshore wind market.
A small waterplane area twin hull or SWATH is a type of vessel designed for a minimum motion of the ship. Reducing the ship’s volume near the surface, where waves develop their greatest power, minimizes the vessel’s response to high seas, both at high speeds and when idling.
Työvene’s newbuilding activities in the commercial market are supported by Finnvera, the Finish state-owned export credit agency. The first of Työvene’s SWATHs will be delivered to Maritime Craft Services in the spring of 2025.
“The major advantage of the SWATH design and its superior response to high seas is that the vessel can operate up to an extra 100 days a year compared to a conventional catamaran that has to stay in port in rough weather,” said Menno Kuyt, commercial director at Maritime Craft Services.
This type of ship, designed by Ad Hoc Marine Designs, can transport up to 24 service technicians to and from offshore wind turbines and carry an additional 30 tonnes of deadweight. All units will be hybrid-ready for easy retrofitting of hybrid equipment. Työvene added that the vessels would also be the first vessels in the offshore wind industry equipped with ballast water treatment plants.
