Ulstein built SOV Acta Auriga completes sea trials
The SOV W2W vessel Acta Auriga, currently under construction at Ulstein Verft, Norway, has successfully completed her sea trials last week. The walk-to-work vessel is custom-designed for the offshore energy industry, Ulstein said in a press release.
The the X-BOW and X-STERN design SOV Acta Auriga is equipped with a 3D crane, SMST gangway, elevator tower and features workability, in-field agility, offshore logistics, comfort and low fuel consumption. The vessel can accommodate on board 120 persons.
As part of the sea trials the vessel was tested at maximum forward and backward speed. Featuring the X-STERN the aftward speed exceeded 12.5 knots, underlining the excellent in-field agility of the vessel. The registered speed in forward mode exceeded 13.5 knots.
The noise and vibration level tests proved to be well within the limits of the high comfort class on this vessel.
The mission equipment; the large centrally positioned SMST provided walk to work motion compensated gangway & elevator tower for personnel and cargo transfers, and the 3D compensated SMST crane capable of 6-ton cargo lifts have also been successfully installed and commissioned.
Design solutions X-BOW and X-STERN
The X-BOW is important when the vessel is transiting in head seas, as is splits the wave energy. This means, the vessel will be able to keep up speed with no slamming and fewer vibrations. When being dynamically positioned at a wind turbine or an offshore platform, the captain’s choice will often be to keep the X-STERN towards the weather. Not only does this eliminate slamming, the vessel will be enabled to stay positioned with lower thruster load, and with reduced fuel consumption as a result.
Finishing works
The vessel, of Ulstein’s SX195 design, has now returned to the construction yard for completion, before her delivery to Acta Marine. The vessel has been awarded a 2-year charter for Operations and Maintenance work at the offshore wind farm BARD Offshore 1, Germany.
