Following the award to UK-based Chartwell Marine of a contract to design and deliver a hybrid crew transfer vessel by HST Marine, the hull of the vessel HST Ella has been laid down by builder Diverse Marine on the Isle of Wight.
Designed specifically for operations servicing wind farms and other offshore facilities, HST says the catamaran’s hybrid propulsion system incorporates an electric motor alongside a diesel engine, which drives a high-performance changeable pitch propeller system.
The company says that at low speeds, this system enables silent, zero-emissions operation, enabling the vessel to comply with port air quality requirements. At transit speeds, it can operate more efficiently than a traditional propulsion system while maintaining crew comfort. HST says that the system, when coupled with the vessel’s advanced hull form, high bollard push and superior bow height, ensures confident transfers at high wave heights.
