VESSEL REVIEW | HST Tynemouth – Hybrid crewboat joins HST Marine’s renewables support fleet

Vessel operator HST Marine, a company under UK-based Purus Marine, recently took delivery of a new fast hybrid crewboat built by Singapore shipyard Strategic Marine.

HST Tynemouth belongs to a series of crewboats designed by UK naval architecture firm BMT in compliance to Bureau Veritas class requirements. The series was designed for optimal operational efficiency across a wide range of loading conditions, with a hull form that maximises the waterline length as well as reduces emissions and fuel consumption even at high transit speeds approaching 26 knots.

The all-aluminium crewboat has an LOA of 27.4 metres, a moulded beam of 8.9 metres, a maximum draught of 1.6 metres, a deadweight tonnage of 30, and open deck space totalling 81.2 square metres. Fendering from RG Seasight is fitted along the hull and is used in conjunction with BMT's patented active fender technology, which dampens contact with turbines to reduce impact loads and thus allow transfers to be undertaken even at higher sea states. A Palfinger Marine knuckle boom crane is installed on the open forward deck.

The accommodations and bridge deck layout have been refined with feedback from vessel operators and customers. Some modifications were incorporated to help reduce the risk of infectious disease on operations, meeting Bureau Veritas' biosafety requirements. The cabin design has been optimised for improved comfort and workflow, with ample storage space, comfortable sleeping areas, and business class seating for 24 offshore service/industrial personnel plus four crewmembers.

The bridge deck layout has been enhanced to provide improved visibility from the helm station while an ergonomic layout increases comfort for the crew. The accommodation spaces are air-conditioned and consist of four two-berth cabins, one single-berth cabin, and a business class saloon.

Two Caterpillar C32 ACERT engines that each produce 1,081 kW turn fixed-pitch propellers via ZF 3050V gearboxes. The parallel hybrid system enables a reduction in main engine hours and maintenance costs and a significant reduction in vessel noise and vibration, thus further enhancing onboard comfort. A Cummins Onan generator meanwhile supplies electrical power for the onboard systems, which include a navigation electronics package from Simrad and communications gear from Sailor.

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