VESSEL REVIEW | Waddenstroom – Shallow-draught workboat for Dutch renewables support company

Dutch operator Van Wijngaarden Marine Services has taken delivery of a new workboat to support its clients in the offshore renewables sector.

Built by compatriot Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld in compliance to Bureau Veritas class rules, Waddenstroom has a length of 36.66 metres, a beam of 13.45 metres, a minimum draught of 2.3 metres, and accommodations for 16 personnel. Duties will include dredging, towing, cable/pipelay support, marine construction support, and anchor handling.

The boasts a large working deck with an area of 190 square metres. Space is available for up to 12 tonnes of assorted cargo, two HS.Marine cranes mounted fore and aft, an A-frame, and a dive platform that can also be used as a deployment transom for a remotely operated vehicle. The vessel can also be beached if necessary, allowing it to support construction and maintenance activities even in areas with unprepared shores.

The diesel-electric propulsion system includes a Caterpillar C32-TTA ACERT 746kW main engine, a Reintjes WAF 562 L gearbox, two Veth VZ900 825ekW azimuthing thrusters housing fixed-pitch propellers, a conventional propeller, and two Veth CJ1000V 325ekW compact jet thrusters in the bow. This arrangement will provide improved positioning capability as well as deliver a bollard pull of up to 35 tonnes and a speed of 11 knots. VWMS has also opted for a Damen Marine NOx reduction system with advanced active emissions control using selective catalytic reduction to make the vessel IMO Tier III-certified.

The vessel has two additional Caterpillar C32s to operate as generators along with a Caterpillar C4.4 107kVA set. These supply power for the onboard electronics, which include two Furuno radars, a DP2 system, and an Area A3 GMDSS. The design may be configured to accommodate a deck-mounted containerised battery to allow the vessel to operate on zero emissions in the future.

The air-conditioned crew accommodation spaces consist of three officer cabins, one of which may be converted into a double cabin, six double crew cabins, a mess, a galley, and a laundry room. The officer cabins and three of the double cabins are positioned in the deckhouse above the waterline to satisfy MLC regulations.