Veka building world’s first hybrid trimarans

A spokesperson for the Dutch Veka Group is claiming that technicians heading out the offshore wind farms can look forward to a more pleasant commute with considerably lower risk of seasickness thanks to a special, innovative ship being built by the shipyard.

Veka is building two trimarans intended specifically for transporting personnel and freight to offshore wind farms and it is claimed that these will be the first hybrid trimarans in the world.

They will also be Veka's first trimarans and most of the innovations incorporated into the designs are intended to make the vessels more stable and more comfortable, thereby reducing the risk of seasickness. For example, the ships have lower windows than is customary, so that the passengers have a better outside view. There are also innovative stabilisers built into the hull that should help to reduce pitching motions of the vessels. Project manager Robin Sijbrands comments, "These stabilisers will allow the passengers to arrive at the offshore wind farm as comfortably as possible." The layout of the three hulls should reduce the rolling of the vessels and give good stability whilst the fine lines of the central hull should reduce the pitching motions.

The 33metre long trimarans will be propelled by no fewer than five water jets. The three jets installed in the central hull will provide the main propulsion power with each one coupled to a diesel engine. This arrangement gives great flexibility allowing the use of one, two or three jets whist the two wing waterjets installed in the side hulls are powered by electric motors. The power for these electric motors comes from permanent magnet generators allowing the vessels to operate under just electric power from these generators. Batteries are also installed providing enough power to operate the vessels for an hour.

This hybrid propulsion system allows the vessel to operate just under electric power when at the wind farm which should offer a considerable saving in fuel as well as in main engine operating hours. Each of the vessels will be capable of transporting 20 tonnes of freight on the foredeck whilst inside, there is space for 24 passengers in comfortable business class seats. There are six cabins on board for the ship's crew, along with a mess room, changing lockers and space for the crew. This allows the ships to be deployed 24 hours per day.

The trimarans are being built for the Danish shipping company World Marine Offshore and they will be used for work at offshore wind farms in the Baltic area. Delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of this year.

The Veka Group has operated as a shipbuilder in international markets for 25 years. Today the yard focuses on building a variety of specialised and high quality vessels.