Already during the construction Acta Marine secured a charter with Ocean Breeze Energy to deploy Acta Auriga for logistical support and maintenance activities on BARD Offshore 1 400 MW wind farm.
"This vessel will be the next level in the market and very well suited to operate in the offshore, and specifically the renewable market. We are very content with the project follow-up and the early delivery by Ulstein. We will now get ready to bring her out to the Offshore Wind Farm to commence work," says Rob Boer, managing director in Acta Marine. "We know how important it is to get a vessel completed on time," says Kristian Sætre, managing director at Ulstein Verft, and continues: "In just 19 weeks we have completed the outfitting of this vessel, and feel certain that the Acta Auriga will be a good work platform for the owner and their clients."
The optimised on-board logistics solutions of this vessel have been developed by considering the flow of people in various work operations. The vessel offers large cargo areas of totally 1,000 square metres, indoors and outdoors, with a container skidding system and ample space for in total 24 containers. All cargo handling is centralized, with stepless transfer to the cargo and personnel lift, and likewise over to the wind turbines.
The overall logistics and the SMST motion compensated gangway, and integrated elevator tower will secure safe and stepless transfers of people and cargo in significant wave height up to 3 metres. SMST also delivered the 3D motion compensated knuckle boom crane which can handle 6t cargo in sea conditions up to Hs 2.5 metres. A part of the requirement by Ocean Breeze Energy was to have the crane and gangway in the centre of the vessel capable to operate on both sides to increase operational flexibility.
Acta Auriga features state of the art ''smart hotel style'' accommodation for up to 120 persons. Ample office and works spaces are available for charterers. The mess room and lounge area include a library, coffee corner and a game room. The vessel also has a sauna and a gym/exercise room and offers very low noise and vibration levels which are rated better than the requirements for DNV comfort level V2 class.
The vessel is equipped with the hull designs X-BOW® and X-STERN®. The X-BOW is important when the vessel is transiting in heavy seas, reducing slamming and vibrations with a positive impact on the well-being on board. The X-STERN has much of the same qualities as the X-BOW and will secure a higher in-field flexibility and improved winter workability. When keeping the stern facing the weather on dynamic position (DP) the vessel will be able to stay positioned with lower thruster load, resulting in a lower fuel consumption. The vessel is capable to sail at a speed of up to 12.5 knots aftwards.
Acta Marine has a sister vessel on order at Ulstein Verft, for planned delivery in Q2 2019.
Main characteristics:
- A CSV vessel (Construction Support Vessel) which can also operate as an SOV vessel (Service Operation Vessel)
- Safe and stepless people and cargo transfer by motion compensated gangway up to Hs 3.0 metres
- 3D motion compensated knuckle boom crane for 6t cargo handling in sea conditions up to Hs 2.5 metres
- Optimized hull form with ULSTEIN X-BOW and ULSTEIN X-STERN to offer unmatched workability
- State-of-the-art hotel facilities to accommodate up to 120 persons, of which 40 single cabins and 40 double cabins
- 1,000 m2 deck space for cargo storage, of which a large part is covered and in a climate-controlled area
