The Damen shipyard is currently building three offshore vessels for Windcat Offshore. Schottel has been commissioned to supply the propulsion systems.
These are so-called Walk-to-Work Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs). The design of the Windcat Elevation series CSOVs is the result of a collaboration between Damen, Windcat and CMB (Compagnie Maritime Belge)[ds_preview].
The ships have a length of 87 m and a width of 20 m and offer space for 120 people. The Windcat newbuildings are powered by hydrogen. The propulsion system consists of MAN engines acting on the Schottel SRP 430 D rudder propellers. The new ships will be equipped with a DP-2 steering system.
The CSOVs will mainly be used in European offshore wind farms. The construction contract includes an option for three further vessels. The three vessels in the Elevation series will be built at the Damens Ha Long shipyard in Vietnam. The first CSOV is scheduled to enter service in 2025.
Schottel developed for harsh conditions
Each propulsion system has an input power of 1,780 kW and a propeller diameter of 2,500 mm. They will be arranged in Damens DPX-Drive configuration on the starboard and port side of the bow and stern. No other types of propulsion are required in this configuration. In addition to greatly reduced propeller acceleration/deceleration times and high-speed azimuth steering, the SRP-D is characterized by a compact design with an integrated drive motor (Embedded L-Drive) and an eight-degree inclined propeller shaft. This results in less interaction between the drives and between the drives and the fuselage.
Previous studies of the SRP-D by classification society DNV and Marin (Institute for Maritime Research) have shown that the effect of the highly dynamic thrust distribution is most pronounced in rough weather conditions and that the new propulsion system significantly improves a vessel’s operational performance, according to Schottel. Recent independent research has confirmed that the SRP-D with a current DP control system delivers immediate and significant improvements even in worst-case-failure (WCF) scenarios.
