Pembroke Dock-based boat building specialist Mainstay Marine Solutions has delivered the 20m vessel Porth Nefyn to transfer vessel operator Turbine Transfers.

The 50-tonne aluminium BMT Nigel Gee-designed wind farm support catamaran, which has completed extensive harbour and sea trials is capable of transporting up to 12 turbine technicians at a speed of up to 25 knots.

The Porth Nefyn will work principally on offshore European wind farm sites between the Baltic and Irish Seas.

The vessel is an extended version of the existing 18m CE class vessel Porth Eilian. It has been designed and built to DNV class category 2 certification for operations up to 60nm offshore with a 25-year service life. 

Turbine Transfers operates around 50 windfarm support vessels. Its fleet ranges from 15m basic wind farm support boats to larger, more technically advanced vessels, with the Porth Nefyn helping ensure the company covers all standards and vessel types.

Mark Meade, chief executive of Holyhead-based Turbine Transfers, said: “The Porth Nefyn has been designed as an efficient, cost effective solution to operations and maintenance work, with no complicated onboard systems

“Our vision is to provide easy to operate and maintain vessels with a high fuel efficiency, and Mainstay Marine Solutions has been an excellent yard to deal with. It has a very high standard of workmanship.

“The addition of the Porth Nefyn to our fleet offers us a strategic advantage, in that we have a range of vessels that are specifically suited to different local weather conditions, cargo types and financial requirements, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

“It will be operating initially on a German wind farm accessed from the port of Eemshaven in the Netherlands.”

Within the last 12 months Mainstay Marine has fulfilled several challenging contracts, including the launch of the 26m offshore support vessel Dart Fisher, and delivery of a tidal energy device which will be tested off Ramsey Sound within the next few months.

Stewart Graves, Managing Director of Mainstay Marine, said: “The vessel has been built to time and to a high specification, thanks to our skilled and experienced project team.

“We have a reputation for quality workmanship, excellent project management and on-time delivery; the Porth Nefyn is proof that Mainstay Marine lives by this ethos.’’

“With our longstanding experience of building rugged and reliable workboats, Mainstay has been the ideal supplier to provide a vessel capable of operating in demanding conditions with a 25yr service life, as required by Turbine Transfers.

“The marine renewable industry is an exciting sector and with our facilities having direct access to deep water and our location being on the confluence of the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and Bristol Channel, it positions us perfectly to support it.”

Mainstay has a further three 19m pilot boats under construction for the Port of Milford Haven, which are due for launch early next year.

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