AHTS

VESSEL REVIEW | HST Hazel – Welsh operator adds renewables support workboat to fleet

Baird Maritime

UK offshore support vessel (OSV) operator HST Marine recently took delivery of a new multi-purpose workboat from Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld in the Netherlands.

Named after the daughter of HST operations director Chris Monan, HST Hazel will be based out of the Port of Swansea in Wales, though it will also be operated in support of clients in south-western England. It is the fifth Damen-built vessel to join the HST fleet following four earlier 27-metre fast catamaran crewboats. Its delivery means HST can now offer workboat services such as marine logistics and general contracting alongside its crew transfer business.

The catamaran workboat is designed to operate in unrestricted waters and will be used for towing, cable-laying, anchor handling, and other duties in support of the offshore renewables sector. The vessel will also be capable of supporting dredging activities, allowing the operator to serve a broader range of domestic clients.

Photo: MarineTraffic.com/Ian Greenwood

The Bureau Veritas-classed HST Hazel has an LOA of 23.33 metres, a moulded beam of nine metres, a maximum draught of 2.3 metres, a gross tonnage of 151, and a cargo deck with a total area of 98 square metres. The cargo deck also features a Heila HLRM marine crane with a maximum lifting capacity of 25.1 tonnes at 5.8 metres outreach.

The array of other deck machinery includes a Techno Spirit hydraulically-driven anchor winch, a bow roller, an A-frame, a dredging plough, a single drum towing winch, and Kraaijeveld anchor handling gear.

Power is provided by two Volvo Penta D16 engines each rated 478 kW at 1,800 rpm and driving Promarin 1,500mm fixed-pitch propellers via Twin Disc MGX 5170 gearboxes. These enable the vessel to achieve a speed of 9.9 knots and an average bollard pull of 16.2 tonnes. Damen said the engines can be easily converted to ensure IMO Tier III compliance.

Manoeuvrability is enhanced by a Kalkman 90ekW electrically-driven bow thruster.

Photo: Damen

Comfortable heated and air-conditioned accommodations are available for seven crewmembers. Spaces includes three single and two double cabins, toilets, a combination galley and mess, a storage compartment in front of the deckhouse, and an additional store adjacent to the galley/mess. The crew cabins have been fitted with satellite television and high-speed interconnectivity with fleet system and VSAT.

The vessel's comprehensive navigation and communications electronics suite consists of equipment from Furuno, Simrad, Sailor, Skipper, Jotron, Entel, Zenitel, and Intellian. A Pesch 2000W searchlight is also fitted.

The onboard electrical systems draw power from a pair of Volvo Penta D7 90ekW generators.

HST Hazel
SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel:General support workboat
Classification:Bureau Veritas I • Hull • MACH Tug [16 ton] Unrestricted navigation • AUT-UMS
Flag:UK
Owner:HST Marine, UK
Designer:Damen Shipyards Group, Netherlands
Builder:Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, Netherlands
Length overall:23.33 metres
Beam:9.0 metres
Draught:2.3 metres
Depth:3.2 metres
Gross tonnage:162
Capacity:98 square metres
Main engines:2 x Volvo Penta D16, each 478 kW at 1,800 rpm
Gearboxes:2 x Twin Disc MGX 5170
Propulsion:2 x Promarin fixed-pitch propellers
Generators:2 x Volvo Penta D7, each 90 ekW
Side thruster:Kalkman, 90 ekW
Maximum speed:9.9 knots
Bollard pull:16.2 tonnes
Radars:2 x Furuno FAR-1518
Depth sounder:Skipper ESN100
Radios:Zenitel CIS3000 intercom; 2 x Sailor RT6222 VHF; 2 x Entel HT 649 VHF
Autopilot:Simrad AP-70
Compass:Cassens and Plath Reflecta 1
GPS:Furuno GP-170
AIS:Jotron TR-8000
Video system:Sea Systems SEAS-6000
Alarm system:Furuno BR-500
Other electronics:Intellian; Seatel Coastal
Crane:Heila HLRM
Anchors:2
Other deck equipment:Kraaijeveld; bow roller; A-frame; plough
Other equipment installed:2 x Azcue service pumps; Facet fuel oil separator; Libellula sewage pump
Searchlights:2 x Pesch
Fuel capacity:69,000 litres
Freshwater capacity:48,000 litres
Sewage/blackwater capacity:1,200 litres
Accommodation:3 x single cabins; 2 x double cabins; galley/mess; toilets; stores
Crew:7
Operational area:Wales; South-West England