Damen Shipyards Group has developed a new concept for offshore charging for fully electric crew transfer vessels (CTVs) that enables emission reduction during the operational phase of an offshore wind farm.
The system envisages a fully electric crew transfer vessel (CTV) which can charge at either a turbine or one of Damen’s commissioning service operations vessels (CSOV) outfitted with a charger.
The system envisages a fully electric CTV which can charge either an offshore wind turbine or one of Damen’s commissioning service operations vessels (CSOVs) outfitted with a charger.
The charging system that Damen has applied to its concept is developed by UK-based MJR, a specialist in offshore charging systems.
The CTV would connect via a bell mouth that catches the charger that is lowered from a reel on the aft deck of the CSOV.
Following personnel disembarkation, the vessel could connect using a highly automated, safe process. It is expected that charging could take place in 2-3 hours, depending on the operational profile.
With the infrastructure for turbine mounted chargers not yet widely available, vessel-to-vessel charging offers CTV owners and operators an opportunity to invest in the sustainable technology of the future, as Mark Couwenberg, Product Manager Service Operations Vessels at Damen explains.
Since turbine-mounted chargers are not yet widely available and installing a battery on a CTV is often not doable due to space and weight restrictions, vessel-to-vessel charging is a more practical option.
UK-based MJR has developed the charging system which sees the CTV connect via a bell mouth that catches the charger lowered from a reel on the aft deck of the CSOV.
Following personnel disembarkation, the vessel could connect using a highly automated, safe process. It is expected that charging could occur in 2-3 hours, depending on the operational profile.
Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group has been building and repairing ships for all sectors of the maritime industry for nearly a century. They support the offshore sector in all its forms with a range of products designed in response to client and market feedback. Today, thier offshore portfolio covers the entire range of small to medium sized vessels for the full spectrum of offshore activities, including renewables, oil & gas, deep sea mining and exploration.
Damen Shipyards works with operators in the offshore energy sector all over the world via its global network of shipyards and Service Hubs strategically located across five continents.
The company builds and repairs all types of ships and their systems with a focus on maximising efficiency and effectiveness.
