‘Seacat Sceptre’, a hydrofoil-optimised Offshore Energy Support Vessel (OESV) owned by Seacat Services, has exceeded its performance predictions while on charter in Scotland to Seagreen Wind Energy.
Developed by designer Chartwell Marine, Sceptre is the first of two OESVs ordered by Seacat equipped with the Foil Optimisation and Stability System (FOSS) technology, designed by BAR Technologies, to enhance stability, crew comfort, and efficiency on offshore operations. Sceptre and its associated FOSS system have exceeded expectations for performance against the above conditions, improving passenger comfort and directional stability, as well as demonstrating 10% fuel savings at a cruising speed of 28 knots, a higher top speed, and increased cruising speeds through higher sea states.
Sceptre will enable Seagreen, a joint venture between SSE Renewables and TotalEnergies, developing a 114-turbine wind farm located in the North Sea Firth, to reduce the overall emissions of its supply chain through substantial vessel efficiency gains. Sceptre’s combination of BAR Technologies’ engineering solutions and Chartwell Marine’s CTV design is said to demonstrate the close and successful partnership between the companies. Collaboration on R&D programmes between Cartwell, Seacat and Seagreen, is helping Seacat lead the way in safety standards, decarbonisation efforts and service quality of the OESV sector.
Ian Baylis, Founder, Seacat Services, said: “We are committed to exploring all avenues to improve emissions performance, and the incorporation of FOSS reflects one part of our wider programme of carbon reduction. We’re proud to offer Seagreen our best-in-class support, and this charter demonstrates that our tailored fleet continues to prove its salt in supporting the build out of offshore sites in Scotland and the UK.”
