(SOMERSET, Mass.) — Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding has delivered its first crew transfer vessel (CTV) to Patriot Offshore Maritime Services. Patriot Leader will operate as a year-round transportation service for 24 workers and equipment to support offshore wind projects on the U.S. East Coast.
Designed by Incat Crowther, the all-aluminum high-speed catamaran is certified to U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter L and Lloyd’s Register special service craft rules. It has an overall length of 88.5 feet, beam of 29.5 feet and draft of 5.6 feet.
The vessel is powered by a four Scania DI16 eight-cylinder, four-cycle, EPA Tier 3-compliant diesel engines, each rated at 788 hp (588 bkW) at 2,100 rpm. Each main engine drives a Hamilton HM521 waterjet through a ZF-665 reverse-reduction gearbox. Humphree interceptors, with automatic trim optimization, are installed at the transom. Top speed is 29 knots.
Electricity is produced by a 55-kW Kohler EPA Tier 3-compliant genset in each of the two engine rooms. The vessel carries 6,800 gallons of cargo fuel, along with fuel pumps and a hose reel, to supply the wind turbines’ auxiliary generator.
The resiliently-mounted superstructure is located aft of midships with port and starboard side decks and working/cargo decks fore and aft. The large foredeck is set up to carry two 20-foot ISO containers and to transfer the offshore workers over the bow. To facilitate wind-turbine landings, the bow is outfitted with a resiliently-mounted RG Seasight fendering system. On the bow is a hydraulic knuckle-boom crane with a 26-foot reach.
Each hull is divided into four watertight compartments, which includes two crew staterooms and a lounge. The main deck, accessible by an aft and two side doors, includes seating for the offshore workers, a galley, wet locker, two heads and showers, and storage racks.
The upper deck includes a wheelhouse and two double staterooms. The wheelhouse, with windows on all sides for nearly 360-degree visibility, is located on the second deck and accessible by interior stairs and an aft exterior ladder. It includes three shock-mitigating helm seats.
The control console across the front includes centerline engine and waterjet controls and navigation and communication electronics. A 144,000-BTU air-conditioning/reverse cycle heat system services the main salon, upper state rooms, crew quarters and the wheelhouse.
The vessel is equipped with a Reygar BareFleet vessel monitoring system to continuously log performance data from various systems, including the engines, waterjet control system, acceleration at the bow, generators, fuel tank levels, navigation and weather information, and video during turbine transfer operations.
– Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding
