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Have placed an order for their first dedicated Wind Farm crew transfer catamaran.
The 14m Powerglide 46 will be fitted with the standard Iveco Nef M67 Commercial engines and rated at 370 hp continuous, which will provide a top cruising speed of 30 knots and no limit on the general cruising speed, which is usually around 21 knots in 2.5m seas.
This craft was chosen after spending the day at Walney Windfarm, Cumbria, with skipper Terry Batt, who demonstrated just how easily the Powerglide 46 can be driven in virtually any sea conditions and still be able to give access to the towers in safety.
One of the biggest factors was the amount of fuel that can be saved each day, and with the economic climate gradually squeezing more and more, Capt. Tom Hutchinson, of Montrose Marine, was confident that his new Powerglide 46 would be a perfect choice for any windfarm. The fuel saving being made at walney are truly amazing and at a time where savings on costs are uppermost in operators minds, this Catamaran will make all the difference. The craft will also be suitable for Bird and Mammal Survey work.
In fact Capt. Hutchinson has ordered this Crew Transfer boat without having a contract with any particular wind farm as he is confident that this Catamaran will go to work immediately it hits the water.
This craft is to be slightly modified from the first Wind Farm boat, after sixteen month of work at Walney, skipper Terry Batt’s New Powerglide 46 is, to have extra accommodation space for the technicians and to provide a good warm area as a separate drying room.
As well as this, there are modifications to the foredeck layout to make it even easier for the crew to access the towers.
This Crew Boat will have a comprehensive set of electronics based around three X19 Neovo Screens networked to all the electronic equipment.