Sea trials have begun for Sea Puffin, a small surface-effect-ship vessel being built in Denmark for Wind Partner by ESNA.
Sea Puffin's design enables developers to operate daughter craft vessels in harsher weather conditions, which will be important as wind farm installations move further offshore.
The 15-metre long SES daughter craft employs an air cushion for active motion damping, resulting in access capabilities beyond conventional daughter craft vessels, whilst reducing fuel consumption and improving crew and passenger comfort during transit.
The compact size also enables vessel deployment using a conventional 15-tonne davit crane fitted onto a mothership. The vessel is designed for launch and recovery operations.
WindPartner and ESNA have a long-term cooperation agreement with the ambition to build a series of this vessel type over the next few years.
