Alnmaritec, the specialist aluminium boat builder based in Northumberland, UK, recently announced the delivery of Dalby Esk, the second of the new Wave Master class of wind farm support vessels, to Dalby Offshore Renewables.

The new vessel has multi-purpose capability for survey and dive support as well as wind farm service roles and she already has her first contract working on the Outer Gabbard wind farm as a crew transfer and logistics vessel, with the prime role being refuelling  and transfer of equipment around the field.
  
“In the renewable energy sector Alnmaritec has unrivalled experience and the company has continually developed the designs of its wind farm service vessels to keep ahead of the market’s ever increasing expectations. The company is now onto its sixth generation design which has culminated in the new Wave Master class,” a company spokesman said.

Dalby Esk’s dimensions
The Dalby Esk measures 20 m x 7.2 m and is fitted with twin MTU engines and fixed pitch propellers giving her a top speed of 28.5 knots. On her large working deck she has the capability to take a 20 ft container and is fitted with a knuckle boom crane, high pressure washers and fuel transfer station. Below deck she has sleeping accommodation for four and in the main saloon she has seating and mess facilities for 12 passengers together with galley, WC, shower and wet areas. In the upper wheelhouse she has a dedicated survey station with facilities for three surveyors as well as the helmsman and crew.

Her unique hull form, which was developed over six months last year using extensive CFD modelling and towing tank testing, offers superb sea keeping characteristics. Stuart McNiven, managing director of Dalby Offshore, commented: “We are delighted with the delivery of the Dalby Esk; she is performing above expectations and offers a high level of comfort for passengers on extended transit times. The Esk offers potential clients a multi-functional solution, with one of the main features being a large open deck capable of carrying a multitude of supplies and equipment coupled with high fuel delivery capacity.

“Alnmaritec has incorporated a number of innovative technical solutions into the vessel’s design and early indications are that she performs exceptionally well in severe weather.”

Alnmaritec, based at Blyth in the northeast of the UK, specialises in the design and build of aluminium alloy workboats for applications including the offshore oil and gas industry, crew ferries, fire and rescue craft, RIBs, hose and line handling tugs, ships tenders, logistic supply vessels, patrol boats, commercial fishing boats, wind farm support boats, oil spill response boats, landing craft and workboats for the aquaculture industry.

Twenty years’ expertise
The company has been building boats for 20 years and has supplied vessels all over the world from the Arctic to the Antarctic and from Africa and the Middle East to the Bering and the Mediterranean seas. It boasts many ‘blue chip’ companies amongst its client base.

Alnmaritec Limited supplied two new fast patrol boats for duty at an LNG export terminal in the Yemen. The boats joined three other Alnmaritec boats which were already operating at the terminal providing line handling and pilot services.

The new Wave Protector class patrol boats that were supplied to the Yemeni terminal were 12 m long x 3.2 m wide and powered by twin Cummins QSB 480 bhp engines driving Ultrajet 305 water jets and giving them a top speed of 38 knots.