Singapore shipbuilder Strategic Marine has begun construction on three crewboats that will feature surface effect ship (SES) designs.
The crewboats will be operated in support of customers in the oil and gas industry. Each vessel will have a length of 35 metres and a top speed of 50 knots.
The SES crewboats were designed in collaboration with France's Aircat Vessels and Norway's Espeland and Skomedal Naval Architects (ESNA).
The SES concept for crew transfer duties will offer a number of advantages. A high transit speed will ensure a shorter transit time while an active SES motion damping system will provide improved seakeeping and greater passenger comfort than what is possible with conventional monohulls and catamarans.
An SES design will also allow transfers to and from wind turbines to be performed at greater wave heights.