FRS Windcat orders two hydrogen ready newbuild CTVs dedicated to the Polish offshore wind industry
Polish crew transfer vessel operator FRS Windcat Polska Sp. z o.o. will receive two crew transfer vessels with options for more delivered by polish ALU International Ltd.. Following several steps already taken, this underlines the company’s intention to make its contribution to Polish local content for the construction and operation of Polish offshore wind farms.
The 2018 founded subsidiary FRS Windcat Polska is owned by the joint-venture of FRS and Windcat: FRS Windcat. Overall, the company has experience of more than 21 years in offshore wind and the operation of around 60 Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) in Europe. Over the last years a local team has been established in Poland to take care of the development and operation of the companies’ activities in Poland. Also, the company has already started to train highly skilled Polish seamen onboard the fleet around Europe. Therefore, according to the companies’ strategy, it is the next logical step offering vessels to the market, which are built by a Polish yard.
Hydrogen ready vessel design
The CTVs ordered will be of Windcat’s newest MK5 vessel design. This design is based on the experience gained with the MK3.5 H2 and MK4 series. It has been developed in-house and offers a new, larger vessel type with optimized seakeeping capabilities and larger deck space while integrating the possibility for larger hydrogen storage on board. The vessels will be 27 meters length overall and will feature 80m² of flush deck space forward. With optimized hull shape, increased width and freeboard, the vessels will achieve higher comfort, greater accessibility and improved seakeeping capabilities suitable to work also in the larger further offshore wind farms being developed.
The focus on low fuel consumption has been maintained by focusing on an efficient propulsion setup a low drag hull shape. The vessels can be delivered with CMB.TECHs full hydrogen system installed capable of carrying up to 458 Kg of hydrogen or hydrogen ready to be able to be retrofitted with the system later.
Made in Poland
The construction of the two aluminium hulls has started in April at the facilities of ALU International shipyard in Gdansk. The company has over 30 years of experience in aluminium shipbuilding and is a well-known specialist for the production of all kinds of maritime aluminium structures. At their production facilities in Gdansk, which has an area of 11.000 m², they deploy around 150 employees.
FRS Windcat Polska and ALU International have signed a contract for the construction of two CTVs with the option acquiring more vessels at a later stage. The first two vessels will be delivered in 2025.
Tim Kunstmann, Managing Director of FRS Windcat Polska states: “With the order of CTVs build by a Polish yard, we are showing our commitment to provide high-quality vessels, which are “Made in Poland” to service the rising Polish offshore wind industry. We are happy that we found with ALU International an experienced partner, who particularly pays special attention to providing high standards in all areas.”
This is how Jakub Budzyński, President of the Management Board of the Polish Chamber of Offshore Wind Energy (PIMEW), commented on FRS Windcat Polska’s decision to build two units in Poland: “The decision of FRS Windcat Polska – a long-time member of the Polish Offshore Wind Society and now the Polish Offshore Wind Industry Chamber, to entrust the construction of two hulls of CTV class units with H2 ready technology to a Polish contractor is very good news for our shipbuilding industry, but also a good prognosis for the future, if it is about using the national shipbuilding potential for the offshore wind sector. PIMEW does hope for strengthening and development of the FRS Windcat Polska` s cooperation with Polish shipbuilding industry in the nearest future. Congratulations to FRS Windcat Polska on making this decision!”
Source: FRS Windcat Polska Sp. z o.o.
