SeaZip Offshore Service signs contract today for 2 Damen Twin Axes for offshore wind farm maintenance

Damen Shipyards and SeaZip Offshore Service will sign a contract at the EWEA conference (14:30 hrs, stand 11020, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,). SeaZip has ordered two Fast Crew Suppliers of the 2610-type. The first ever FCS 2610 was delivered early 2011 and offers reduced peak accelerations of up to 75%, reduced added resistance in waves of up to 60% and has already transferred maintenance crew to turbines in wave heights of 1.9 m.

Jan Reier Arends, one of Seazip’s Managing Directors, will sign the contract with Roel van Eijle, Sales Manager Benelux, on the first day of the 2011 Offshore conference of the European Wind Energy Association. The vessels will be built at Damen Shipyards Singapore and delivery is set for the third quarter of 2012.

Safe access to offshore sites

Offshore wind is rapidly becoming a highly a specialized field in offshore operations. As the need for specialized services grows, there’s a need for fit-for-purpose service vessels. That’s why Mr Arends and Mr Sander Schakelaar, managing owners of the established (container) transport company JR Shipping, founded SeaZip Offshore Service in 2010. SeaZip will draw on the 18 years of experience and services of JR Shipping, including vessel development and management.

The two entrepreneurs have a clear goal: to provide service vessels for fast and safe access to offshore sites. In their effort to deliver “outstanding and safe performance in even the most challenging of circumstances” (SeaZip’s mission statement), they teamed-up with Damen Shipyards. The FCS 2610, already in use at offshore wind farms, matched Seazip´s requirements as to safety, transport capacity, comfort, and performance levels in harsh weather conditions.

Another argument is that offshore wind farms are being built at ever-increasing distances from the shore, impairing continuity in operations and maintenance. The FCS 2610 can overcome these challenges as it has a range over 1000 nm, a 20,000 litre fuel tank (for sailing and transferring purposes) and there’s accommodation for 4 crew and 12 industrial personnel.

According to Mr Arends the Twin Axe catamaran is “an excellent design, especially for staying out at sea for longer periods, while not compromising crew comfort.”