SC Falcon is put through her paces in rough, wintery seas.
Brightlingsea (UK), 4 February 2014 – Experience gained from four years in the offshore wind support vessel market is paying off for CTruk as it prepares to deliver SC Falcon, the company’s latest OWSV and the second CTruk 20T MPC for Sima Charters of Holland.
Sea trials for the striking blue and yellow-liveried cat, the first CTruk workboat with Volvo IPS propulsion, have produced some impressive statistics.
With a 25 knot cruising speed and top speed of over 30 knots, SC Falcon has satisfied Sima Charters’ Taco Davids that she is more than up to the job. As an experienced offshore wind skipper he explained, “For me the most important features of these boats are stability, manoeuvrability and a clear line of sight for the skipper onto the turbine. Safety is paramount and CTruk keep that front-of- mind throughout the whole design and build process. SC Falcon performs well on all these points and she also sticks like glue to the turbine ladder! Even with 1.6m significant wave height we experienced no roll or heave once pushed on.”
In addition to the safety features of CTruk’s designs, the fuel efficiency of the company’s composite vessels is renowned. During sea trials SC Falcon burned just 105 litres of fuel per hour at 20 knots. Sima Charters’ owner, Ruud Lievaart, said, “This vessel is a credit to CTruk. The fit-out is second-to- none and I’m really pleased with another on time and on budget build. As the first CTruk workboat with Volvo IPS propulsion she demonstrated great bollard pull during trials and with her low-weight composite construction the fuel economy is superb.”
Ben Simpson, CTruk MD, commented, “We are delighted to have worked closely again with an experienced vessel operator like Ruud Lievaart”. He went on to explain how the company has grown, “CTruk now has a six-strong design team working closely with clients on all builds. We also have seven in-house electricians who consistently deliver high-standard, class-approved installations under the watchful eye of Mark Bellenie, who came to CTruk from the aviation industry. The team we’ve built here ensures that our company ethos, ‘safer, better, faster and more cost-effective’, permeates through all stages of design and build.”
With another vessel delivered on time, it would seem that the company’s drive to innovate in this sector is paying off. To date, all CTruk’s 20T MPC customers have gone on to order a second.
