Strategic Marine Delivers groundbreaking 'triple First' Stratcat to Njord Offshore
Strategic Marine, a leading specialist shipbuilder and member of the TriYards Group, has delivered a world's first to European windfarm service sector operator, Njord Offshore.
This vessel builds on the success of the first eight 21m vessels built for Njord by Strategic Marine.
The StratCat, a multi-purpose service vessel capable of transporting up to 24 crew, is first in its class in three particulars.
"We are very pleased to have supplied a 'triple first' to our client," explains Reece Newbold, Group Business Development Manager at Strategic. "Number one, this is the very first commercial quad IPS installation on a vessel. Number two, it has the distinction of being the first IPS quad fitted on a catamaran. And number three, it's the world's first IPS version 900 quad installation on any vessel, ever."
The StratCat is the first of four in a series of 26m vessels ordered by UK-based Njord. Strategic, a member of the TriYards Group with facilities in Australia, Singapore and Vietnam, previously built eight 21m crew transport vessels for Njord which, like these larger new vessels, were purpose-made to spearhead the European windfarm service industry in quality, operability, and crew comfort.
The StratCat cruises at 25 knots via quad installation of Volvo IPS drive units, each generating 700hp for total 2,800hp. The vessel is also capable of achieving 23 knots in redundancy mode with one main engine down. Its intuitive joystick docking (main control, two wing joysticks and rescue zone joystick) and Dynamic Positioning System allow precision control when manoeuvring onto a wind turbine, exceeding all performance standards at sea and ensuring the greatest possible safety during crew transfers.
77m² of clear deck and container carriage space, a SWL 2.5 ton @ 8m knuckle boom crane, accommodation for 10, shower facilities, full galley and mess, provides a state-of-the-art transport vessel with comfort, handling and thrust capabilities second to none.
"The StratCat, co-designed by BMT, not only breaks new ground as an installation triple first, it fully accounts for all operational parameters required to safely and efficiently transfer crew to offshore wind turbines," says Newbold. "As you would imagine, we're justifiably proud of our achievement."
Strategic Marine, with operations in Singapore, Western Australia and Vietnam, is one of the world's leading specialist shipbuilding and engineering companies.
Strategic operates principally in five key sectors, producing high quality crew boats, wind farm service vessels, passenger ferries, patrol boats and modular steel product for global infrastructure, renewables and mining markets.
Since incorporating in 2001, Strategic has built and delivered over 600 vessels for a variety of clients in the maritime, offshore and naval defence sectors.
Strategic's solid reputation for the manufacture of high-performance ships, historically focused on aluminum vessels, has also become associated with steel-based construction over the last few years.
In addition to its growing newbuilding capabilities, which now include diversification into offshore windfarm service vessels, Strategic provides maritime solutions in refit/repair, support fabrication and marine infrastructure. Strategic's operation in Perth, Western Australia, focuses on a comprehensive suite of maritime fabrication and logistics services.
In January 2014, Strategic unveiled its first batch of new crewboats and windfarm sector vessels for stock, shortening delivery periods to meet increased market demand.
Also in 2014, Strategic Marine became part of the Triyards Group, bolstering its financial capacity and increasing the ability to take on more varied projects in the marine and infrastructure markets.
This article was originally published on Marine & Industrial Report newspaper Vol 37 No.3 Issue last June 30,2015.
