VESSEL REVIEW | Haifeng 5201 & Haifeng 5202 – Catamaran crewboats to support Chinese offshore wind farm maintenance

China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), through its CCCC Haifeng Wind Power business unit, recently added two new crewboats in a series to its fleet of windfarm operation and maintenance vessels.

Designed for safety, efficiency, and endurance

Haifeng 5201 (海峰5201) and Haifeng 5202 (海峰5202) were built by Huahai Shipbuilding in compliance to China Classification Society rules. The catamaran vessels each have a steel hull, an aluminium superstructure, an LOA of 40 metres (131.2 feet), a beam of 10.8 metres (35.4 feet), a depth of 5.2 metres (17 feet), and space for 12 passengers/technicians. The design utilises a high freeboard to help minimise wave impact.

The diesel propulsion system on each vessel delivers a maximum speed of 18 knots and a range of 1,000 nautical miles. The long range translates into greater endurance to allow each vessel to maximise the number transfers in between refuellings. This helps ensure the continuous servicing of offshore wind turbines with fewer downtimes.

The high power output of the propulsion works in conjunction with the catamaran hull form to guarantee that each crewboat can safely navigate even under Sea State five conditions. Transfers can meanwhile be performed in conditions of up to Sea State four. This then gives the operator a larger safety window for turbine servicing, which would not be possible with a less capable vessel.

Also equipped for secondary duties

The open forward deck has space for cargo and a knuckle boom crane while special top-leaning rubber fendering is also fitted. Specialised electrically-driven marine pumps are also fitted for the transfer of fresh water or some of each vessel's diesel fuel to an offshore booster station for maintenance purposes if needed, such as during emergencies.

Haifeng 5201, Haifeng 5202, as well as their sister vessel Haifeng 5203, which is nearing completion, will support the operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms in the provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong and in the Guangxi autonomous region.