In response to an industry-wide push, the vessel was designed to develop and deploy advanced technologies that minimize CO2 emissions while servicing offshore wind farms cost-effectively, CWind said.

The vessel has a hybrid diesel and battery electric power system that allows it to work in the harbor or standby at the wind farm solely on battery power.

The 24-pax CWind Pioneer can operate at speeds greater than 43.5 kts and can safely transit and transfer more than 1.8 m Hs in marine states, while minimizing motion and acceleration through its air cushion motion control system, CWind said, adding that the vessel is more than 20 percent more fuel-efficient than conventional CTVs.

In 2019, Ørsted signed a contract for the supply of CWind Pioneer for the offshore wind project Borssele 1 & 2 in the Netherlands with CWind.

In collaboration with ESNA, a Norwegian ship design company, the hybrid SES crew transfer vessel was designed and constructed in the UK by Wight Shipyard.

"This figure excludes the savings of the hybrid system, which will allow the vessel to be zero emission ship infield while technicians are carrying out their work on the turbines. Specific figures will be shared once these savings are proven, but initial desk top studies suggest a 30%-50% saving over conventional vessels," said the company.

Maritime Business World