Tidal Transit, an offshore wind crew transfer vessel (CTV) supplier, has expanded its fleet with the addition of the Arabella Jane, a Windflex 27 CTV equipped with Quad IPS propulsion. The vessel has secured its first charter to support operations at Orsted's Hornsea 2, the world's largest offshore wind farm.
The 24-passenger vessel, designed by Incat Crowther UK and fitted with Volvo Penta IPS30 propulsion, was chosen to meet the growing demand for crew transport in the offshore wind sector as the industry works towards net zero.
Tidal Transit has also placed orders for two additional vessels, which will serve as frontrunners for its future electric CTVs expected to be delivered by 2026.
Leo Hambro, commercial director at Tidal Transit, expressed optimism about the company's future. “Having previously serviced weather masts in the area over a decade ago with our 20m Mercurio fleet, we've come full circle and are delighted to be back at Hornsea, now home to the world's largest offshore wind farm,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of the new vessel in maintaining the industry's confidence in the company's services, adding, “This charter-before-arrival agreement with Orsted has given us strong encouragement and underscores the industry's confidence in our reliability and reputation for delivering top-tier, energy-efficient, and low-risk logistics solutions.”
Hambro further emphasized Tidal Transit's long-term commitment to decarbonization, noting that the new vessels provide fuel-efficient solutions while the company prepares to introduce battery-powered, zero-carbon CTVs in the coming years. “We're keeping the electric dream alive by providing the industry with fuel efficient, retrofittable frontrunner CTVs right now, while at the same time committing to the delivery of zero-carbon, battery-powered vessels in the near future,” he said.
