Seacat eyes offshore wind market growth, orders two more

The vessels are scheduled for launch in October 2015 and January 2016 respectively, and will become available for charter in Europe in time for what Seacat expects will be “a significant uptick” in its business in 2017.

The DNV GL-classed catamarans, named Seacat Mischief and Seacat Magic, will be constructed in the Isle of Wight, and are intended to cater to a need for “larger, more versatile” crew transfer vessels for deepwater developments in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

“Local supply chain hubs, such as the one we have built with Seacat Services on the Isle of Wight, have been instrumental in driving standards in European offshore wind to date and will undoubtedly prove invaluable as the industry enters a critical phase of construction,” said Steve Thacker md of South Boats IOW.

Ian Baylis, md of Seacat Services, indicated: “As the offshore wind market prepares to enter by far its most significant and challenging phase of development to date, firms throughout the supply chain must start gearing up to support that expansion. As ever, this will require forward-thinking and timely investment.

“While these new 24 m vessels are being built with the imminent construction rounds in mind, they are, as ever, the product of a hugely productive development relationship and years of experience at sea, accrued not just in the domestic market, but in the wider European offshore wind industry.”

Meanwhile Seacat Courageous, the firm’s second 26 m tank-tested crew-transfer vessel, is due for launch in mid-February this year.

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Seacat eyes offshore wind market growth, orders two more crew-transfer vessels