Press Release

Mikkel Windolf, Senior Product Innovation Manager at Orsted: “Technology is constantly evolving and changing. However, vessel designs have remained relatively stable in the offshore wind business until now. The SES design is for the specific sites where transit distance and time suits. The SES vessel is signalling a change for the offshore market to move towards more specialised product that is aimed at solving unique challenges.”

 

 

 

The fastest crew transfer boats come the UK’s offshore wind industry.

Ørsted have commissioned three new vessels called Surface Effect Ships (SES) to improve the journey for technicians to turbines.

 

Ørsted, over the last couple of years, have trialled and investigated different options for transfer to the turbine, and today can reveal that three SES vessels have been signed for with World Marine Offshore.

 

The SES is twice as fast as a normal Crew Transfer Vessel, meaning Ørsted’s technicians will be able to get to turbines a lot quicker.

 

The new vessels have technology to help the waves pass under the vessel, with an air cushion that acts as a damper, ensuring much more stable transfers to and from the wind turbines. There is also 25% reduced fuel consumption compared to competing vessels in high speed.

 

The three vessels will be in operation on the East Coast of England from June 15th.  One will be on hire, with two being new builds for Ørsted.

 

Hans Schneider, CEO of World Marine Offshore: “We are excited to partner with Ørsted and in supplying the innovative SES technology. This secures a comfortable, safe, and fuel-efficient solution, and helps towards a lower Levelized Cost of Energy. From the early trials back in 2019-20 to now, we are at the exciting part of the process with delivering the fastest and most stable vessels in the wind industry”

 

The first SES vessel was deployed at a trial in Denmark back in early 2019. Assessing performance, talking to suppliers, and refining the design have led to a robust setup for our Race Bank wind farm where the SES vessels will replace the hotel like Service Operations Vessel currently operating the wind farm.

 

Mikkel Windolf, Senior Product Innovation Manager at Orsted: “Technology is constantly evolving and changing. However, vessel designs have remained relatively stable in the offshore wind business until now. The SES design is for the specific sites where transit distance and time suits. The SES vessel is signalling a change for the offshore market to move towards more specialised product that is aimed at solving unique challenges.”

 

Press Release

World Marine Offshore orders Ørsted-bound crew transfer vessels from Umoe Mandal 28 April 2022 – Danish crew transfer vessel operator World Marine Offshore (WMO) has contracted Norwegian shipbuilder Umoe Mandal AS to build two second generation Wavecraft™ crew transfer vessels, plus entered into bareboat charter agreements for two similar vessels that are owned by the Umoe Group. Three of the four vessels will go on contract with Ørsted.

 

 

“Our Wavecraft vessels are unique as they are heave compensated and probably the most efficient crew transfer vessels in the world. They can transfer personnel in wave heights up to 2.5 metres and are capable of 40-45 knots service speed. World Marine Offshore (WMO) and Ørsted are the most experienced users of these air-cushioned catamarans. To receive further orders from the companies who are most familiar with this vessel type confirms their confidence in the vessels’ performance and quality,” says Tom Harald Svennevig, CEO of Umoe Mandal.

 

WMO has ordered two newbuild, second generation Wavecraft™ vessels of the Sprinter 28 design from Umoe Mandal. In addition, WMO has entered into four-year bareboat charter agreements for the two existing Wavecraft™ vessels Umoe Firmus and Umoe Rapid. The vessels’ owner, the Umoe Group, is Umoe Mandal’s majority shareholder.

 

UK bound vessels

Upon completion, the two newbuild vessels will enter service for Ørsted on wind farms located on UK’s east coast. Both vessels will be delivered from Umoe Mandal in 2023.

 

Mikkel Windolf, Senior Product Innovation Manager at Ørsted, comments: “Technology is constantly evolving and changing. However, vessel designs have remained relatively stable in the offshore wind business until now. The SES (Surface Effect Ships) design is for the specific sites where transit distance and time suits. The SES vessel is signalling a change for the offshore market to move towards more specialised product that is aimed at solving unique challenges.”

 

The two existing vessels, which were also built by Umoe Mandal, have been in service in the offshore wind industry for several years and proved to be highly valuable assets for solving logistical challenges in demanding weather conditions.

 

“WMO has had the pleasure to be operating these unique vessels on behalf of the Umoe Group for several years, and we have seen the unique performances these vessels offer to the offshore wind industry. Feedback from offshore wind farm owners has been excellent. We have worked together with Umoe Mandal for a long time to meet Ørsted’s requirements for their UK east coast operation, and we are proud to see that WMO and Wavecraft Sprinter 28 is selected for this contract, said Hans Schneider, CEO of WMO.

 

Air-cushioned catamaran

All Wavecraft™ vessels are based on an air-cushion catamaran design, which guarantees rapid transit time, excellent seakeeping and passenger comfort, superior fuel economy and reduced environmental footprint. They are built in composite sandwich materials that enables up to 20-30 percent lower fuel consumption than for example aluminium vessels, with associated reduced emission levels.

 

Further, Wavecraft™ crew transfer vessels are equipped with a unique boarding control system (BCS™) which eliminates wave motions and allows transfer of personnel to the offshore turbines in waves up to 2.5mHs, allowing large operational window for offshore wind farm operators.

 

“The combination of 40-45 knots operating speed and our boarding control system means that wind farm operators can get a substantially higher number of operating hours out of every offshore technician. Not only do we cut the transit and infield sailing time by half versus traditional CTVs, but we also increase the operating window significantly. With offshore wind farms moving further offshore, often in rougher seas, we believe the industry is ready for a new generation of high-performance crew transfer vessels,” adds Tom Harald Svennevig.

 

The Wavecraft™ vessels of the Sprinter 28 design is 27.5 metres long and 10.4 metres wide. It carries up to 24 passengers, plus four crew.

 

New charter.

We are pleased that Umoe Rapid has returned on a new charter on the Ørsted operated Borselle 1 & 2 windfarm after a 7 months absent.

We are confident that the vessel will be a high performing asset for the principals in the following winter months.

We have been busy!

We are proude to announce that Umoe Rapid has reached a milestone – making the incredible sailed distance of 5 times around the globe in only 5 years.

On the 16.11.2021: Umoe Rapid where in transit from St.Malo in France to Vlissingen in the Netherlands,  Umoe Rapid sailed the sea voyage distance of 326 nm in 8 hrs and 15 minutes.

Umoe Rapid’s impressive performance of 45 kn max. speed / 40 kn service speed, safe boatlanding in up to 2.5 m wave height, 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption, compared to traditional windfarm CTVs in high speed, and substantially reduced seasickness, reported by crew and passengers and shown by third party monitoring, proves this craft to be a reliable and profitable workhorse of a vessel   –  again proving that Wavecraft™  vessels are the fastest CTV`s in the wind industry.

 

The future is here!

Foresight technology pilot now in operation onboard the WAVECRAFT ™ Umoe Firmus.

The system is now in pilot operation including key mechanical components onboard the ship.
The system monitors machinery condition in real time to give the user accurate indication of machinery health and remaining component life.
The prototype installation will be tested by our engineers over the next year, giving valuable information on how to move away from traditional time based maintenance to a condition based maintenance strategy.

Umoe Mandal plan to offer Foresight technology as part of the SenseLOG maintenance program. The Ship owner will own the data and save cost by a better maintenance strategy. In turn, Umoe Mandal will have a shorter response time for maintenance requests, this ensuring the best possible availability of the vessel.

Together with Machine Prognostics, our vision is to reduce waste by increasing ship and machinery component life and thereby reduce maintenance costs for vessel owners. With this technology we solve tomorrows problems in the industry.

“Foresight Technology is a machinery condition indication system which gives the user accurate indication of the health and remaining life of machinery components.”

Senselog
Senselog

 

 

 

Maintenance and modifications to WAVECRAFT ™ Umoe Firmus

WAVECRAFT ™ Umoe Firmus has been refurbished.

WAVECRAFT ™ Umoe Firmus has been refurbished from 12 to 24 Pax (IP). There is still spacious and comfortable seating arrangements for the passangers.
WAVECRAFT ™ Umoe Firmus has changed flag form British to Danish flag.
WAVECRAFT ™ vessels are based on proven Surface Effect Ship and air-cushion catamaran design, which guarantees rapid transit time, excellent seakeeping and passenger comfort, superior fuel economy and reduced environmental footprint.

New interior Firmus - Spacious & Comfortable
New interior Firmus – Spacious & Comfortable

 

Good and practical storagespace.
Good and practical storage space

 

Umoe Firmus Cabin
Umoe Firmus Cabin

 

Good sized kitchen
Good sized kitchen

 

Latest innovation for the O&G sector – Voyager 38 X

Unveiling new member of the Voyager family,
Voyager 38 X, high-performance Crew Transfer Vessels for the Oil & Gas sector

WAVECRAFT™ Voyager 38 X is a seagoing innovation, designed to reduce transit time, improve crew and passenger comfort, safety and efficiency, expand operational envelop and reduce logistical cost.

Voyager 38X incorporates proven air-cushion catamaran and Surface-Effect-Ship (SES) technologies with a sophisticated motion control system, which compensates for vertical wave motion, offering comfortable transit and safe access to other vessels and installations offshore. The vessel may be outfitted with a gangway and a SeaSpyder personnel transfer system. With a sleek composite hull design and optional smart interior layout that offers modern facilities, such as a meeting room, refreshments lounge, quiet zone with reclining chairs, tv screens and other modern amenities, Voyager 38 X is optimized to deliver uniquely comfortable transit for up to 150 passengers and crew of six.

With max speed of 55 kn, excellent seakeeping capabilities even in high sea states and superior fuel efficiency and hence low environmental footprint, the new Voyager 38X offers reduced logistical costs per each far from shore transfer, effectively servicing multiple platforms in a single transit.

WAVECRAFT™ Voyager 38 X can be delivered in accordance with all major classification societies, and is compliant with USCG and ABS A1 HSC Crew boat, “Circle E” + AMS + DPS-2 classifications. Applying the latest in high-speed diesel engine- and SCR technologies, Voyager 38 X meets stringent environmental standards and is compliant with USCG EPA TIER 4 requirements.

“Voyager 38 X implements intelligent design and state-of-the-art technology to offer new standard for offshore crew transfer, directly competing with helicopters on levels of safety, comfort, fuel efficiency and overall reduced cost of offshore logistics. We are pleased to offer our latest innovation to the global Oil & Gas sector, and are especially excited to enter the US market with purpose-designed technologies to meet EPA TIER 4 standard”, said Are Søreng, VP Sales & Marketingat Umoe Mandal.

Read more about Voyager 38 X

(Note: Some design features and performance indicators may vary for the global and US Voyager 38 X versions.)

Wind giant tests fierce “seaplane” outside Esbjerg at 78 kilometers/hour

“Ørsted (former Dong Energy) is currently testing a hybrid between a hovercraft and a catamaran, called a “Surface Effect Ship” between Esbjerg Port and Horns Rev 2. With a max speed of up to 80 kilometers/hour, this vessel is stirring quiet a sensation….”

“We are constantly working to improve the technologies that we use when operating our windmill parks. A faster service vessel means shorter transit time, and therefore, technicians get more work time at windmill parks. When operating windmill parks, we have days where we can’t get access to the field due to weather; a more robust craft makes it possible to transfer wind technicians, allowing for more offshore working days per year, explains Håkan Borgström, Senior Manager, Operations Technology – Concept Line at Ørsted”. Read full article in Danish at Jydske Vestkysten

Umoe Mandal awarded support by The Research Council of Norway

Umoe Mandal awarded support by The Research Council of Norway

As part of the MAROFF-2 program for research, innovation and sustainability within marine and offshore industries, Umoe Mandal has been granted funding for further development of its WAVECRAFT™ vessel designs for the offshore Oil and Gas sector.

Umoe Mandal will focus on optimizing total vessel concept by conducting a parameter sensitivity study on the most important hull parameters in order to design an even lighter hull construction, which will result in more fuel reduction and lower CO2 emissions. Other focus areas will include enhanced propulsion solutions and fire restriction. Various calculation and testing programs will be applied, including simulation, model testing, CFD and FEM.

The overall objective of the project is to further develop proven Surface Effect Ship (SES) and air-cushion catamaran technology for a more competitive vessel in regard to construction and operating costs, specifically designed to improve logistics and cost-efficiency of operations in the offshore energy sector.

Umoe Mandal partnered with The Research Council of Norway on an earlier MAROFF-1 project developing WAVECRAFT™ high-speed CTVs for the offshore Renewables industry.

The MAROFF programme aims to actualize Norwegian government’s maritime strategy for promoting innovation and environmentally sustainable value creation in the maritime industries.

The programme provides support and funding to maritime firms and research institutions that initiate specific projects that target to discover innovative solutions to challenges identified in the Maritim21 and MARUT processes.

Read more about Maritime activities and offshore operations (MAROFF)

Voyager series further enhances safety with a newly added DP 2 system

Voyager 32 and Voyager 38 W2W series for the Oil & Gas sector are now upgraded with a sophisticated Dynamic Positioning 2 system. This optional feature is intended to meet customer and regulatory requirements, while improving safety of crew transfer to/from oil rigs and other offshore installations. The DP system will offer better operational freedom for a vessel positioned in a congested environment, and will contribute to preserving surrounding oceanic eco-system.