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

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.

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.

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.

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