VESSEL REVIEW | CWind Pesanach – Fast, versatile crewboat for Taiwanese waters

CWind Taiwan, a joint venture between UK-based CWind and Taiwanese vessel operator the International Ocean Group (IOG), has acquired a new windfarm support catamaran crewboat built by Singapore's Penguin International.

Classed by Bureau Veritas, the aluminium-hulled CWind Pesanach is the eleventh vessel to join IOG's offshore fleet, which also includes a platform supply vessel and survey craft. The crewboat, which was acquired in anticipation of a growing number of offshore wind projects in Taiwan, has since been reflagged and is now deployed off the coast of Changhua county to support the activities of a local project developer.

The newbuild has a length of 27 metres, a moulded beam of nine metres, a design draught of 1.4 metres, and a moulded depth of 3.85 metres. The spacious forward deck has an area of 60 square metres and can accommodate one 20-foot ISO container. Alternatively, three 10-foot containers or up to 20 tonnes of assorted cargo can be transported on each voyage. The deck is also fitted with a Palfinger Marine knuckle boom crane to aid in the loading and unloading of cargo.

The main cabin has business class-style seats for a maximum of 24 technicians. The cabin also has three LCD television screens and a wet room with its own shower cubicle and two toilet cubicles. The crew spaces include five single cabins, two cubicles with shower, a mess, and a washer and dryer room. The upper deck also has a refreshment area.

Four Scania DI16 engines connected to four Hamilton HM521 waterjets to deliver a maximum speed of 29 knots and a service speed of approximately 25.5 knots. These also enable the crewboat to achieve a bollard pull of 14.5 tonnes. A passive interceptor system from Humphree is also fitted.

The onboard navigation and communication electronics include an Area A2 GMDSS, Simrad radars, Sailor radios, a Vingtor public address system, a McMurdo EPIRB, and a Lilley and Gillie compass. Electrical power for all onboard systems is supplied by two Kohler 41ekW generators.

The crewboat is also fully equipped with lifesaving gear in compliance to SOLAS. On either side of the vessel is a 35-person liferaft while 35 lifejackets and 30 immersion suits are also available. There are rescue zones on port and starboard as well as eight lifebuoys, pyrotechnics, and a line-throwing apparatus. There is also an onboard firefighting system that uses aerosol as a retardant.

Although it is designed primarily for crew transfer duties, CWind Pesanach will also undertake secondary functions such as providing support for general surveys and unexploded ordnance surveys.

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