The newly built service operation vessel (SOV) Bibby WaveMaster Horizon is equipped with propulsion units from Schottel.
Ordered by the British company Bibby Marine Services and built at Damen Shipyards Galati, the vessel is driven by three rudder propellers and two bow thrusters from the German propulsion expert. The new walk-to-work vessel is purpose-built for the transfer and accommodation of support and maintenance engineers at offshore wind farms.
The 89.65-metre-long and 20.00-metre-wide Bibby WaveMaster Horizon recently started work on the Hohe See and Albatros offshore wind farms in the German North Sea. Homeported in Emden, Germany, it will be used for operations and maintenance services. For this purpose, the SOV has a deadweight of 2,300 tonnes, a deck space of 425 m² and accommodation for a total of 60 people.
The propulsion system is powered by four diesel generators, driving the electric motors of the Schottel propulsion package. With two Schottel SRP 460 FP rudder propellers featuring an input power of 2,150 kW each and a propeller diameter of 2.60 metres at the stern, the vessel will reach a top speed of 13 knots.
At the bow, two Schottel transverse thrusters type STT 4 FP (860 kW each) and one Schottel SRP 260 RT retractable rudder propeller (860 kW) – which can be used as a tunnel thruster in its retracted position – complete the propulsion package.