Innovative Transfer Boat for the Wind Industry is ready for Hornsea 2

ESVAGT, OSK Design, and Hvide Sande Shipyard have joined forces to raise the bar in offshore wind logistics with the development of a next-generation transfer boat. The new boat is larger, more robust, and designed to carry more technicians and cargo. Technicians were very satisfied after testing in March.

ESVAGT revolutionized offshore wind operations when it introduced the boat transfer of wind turbine technicians using its purpose-built Safe Transfer Boats (STBs).

These boats filled a critical market need, and today, the STB concept - featuring experienced seafarers and custom-designed boats plays a vital role in enhancing flexibility and efficiency across offshore wind farms throughout Europe.

Now, ESVAGT, in collaboration with OSK Design and Hvide Sande Shipyard, is taking the next step with the STB15: a larger boat capable of transferring more technicians and cargo. In addition to traditional boat landings, it also supports the GUS system, which hoists technicians directly onto the turbine platform.

“Our SOV concept together with transfer boats has proven its potential and created a demand for handling even more tasks with STBs,” says Søren Westphal, Senior Project Manager at ESVAGT and head of boat development in ESVAGT.

Strong Partnership
ESVAGT has once again entrusted Hvide Sande Shipyard with the construction of the new boat, who also build the predecessor STB12:

“We’ve had great experiences with Hvide Sande Shipyard as an innovative, skilled, and quality-conscious partner. Together, we have developed a boat that adds even more value to renewable energy production,” says Søren Westphal.

CEO Carl Erik Kristensen of Hvide Sande Shipyard is proud of the continued partnership:

“We’re pleased to build on our strong and trusted relationship with ESVAGT in developing the next generation of STBs for the wind industry. ESVAGT is deeply committed to incorporating the experiences from the seafarers in the vessel design, which makes the project especially rewarding for us,” he says.

FACTS:
The Safe Transfer Boat 15 (STB15) is designed for use at the Hornsea offshore wind farms.

The STB15 will be used to transfer technician, move cargo and spare parts and transport supplies and personnel to shore. Crucially it will be able to transfer cargo and technicians in rougher seas than before, which will expand the potential of using the boat even more.

STB15 offers increased capacity for both personnel and cargo compared to the STB12.

Technicians will spend more time onboard, so the boat is equipped for more difficult weather conditions without causing seasickness. That’s why it features a stabilizer and interceptor system to reduce motion both at rest and underway—greatly improving the comfort on board the boat.