A viable alternative

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAMEN SHIPYARDS GROUP.

Custom designed for the FCS 7011, the S-type motion-compensated gangway is a critical element in this next generation fast crew supplier. Engineered for minimum weight and fully electrical operation, the gangway plays a vital role in ofshore crew transfers along with a VEEM gyrostabiliser and a range of other state of the art systems. Together they ensure safe, rapid, and cost-efective personnel transfers to and from the vessel in a wide range of sea states.

Ampelmann has constructed many motion compensated gangways to be installed on existing and newly build vessels. Aqua Helix is the frst project with a gangway that has been integrated in the design of the vessel. Because of this, many components of the gangway could be installed at a lower level of the vessel which has a positive efect on stability as well as on maintenance. With the gangway, Ampelmann introduced some other interesting features. For the frst time, the electromotors that power the hydraulic cylinders were placed directly on the cylinders. This reduces the amount of piping, thus weight. In order to save energy, energy can be recovered during the lowering of the gangway. For the slideway, Ampelmann introduces a weight saving composite. Another worth mentioning efect of the collaborative development of the vessel is that the designers were able to draw the most ideal walking routes for its passengers, which improves safety on board for both crew and passengers.

In January 2021, Aqua Helix was launched into the water at Damen Shipyards in Antalya, as the largest ever vessel (74.3m) to have been launched in Antalya Free Zone. Due to the ongoing nature of the pandemic, the launch was a very low-scale event instead of the large celebration that would usually be held for such a momentous occasion. On top of that, the launching was a very specifc operation handled by two cranes which were transported by 50 trucks to settle on site, since the current launching facility was under re-construction. Despite this, the launching remained a very important milestone in the development of the vessel and a signifcant step towards its completion. Following the conclusion of outftting activities and sea trials from Antalya to test and demonstrate her capabilities, the vessel sailed to the Netherlands in October of last year for the installation of the Ampelmann gangway system.

Following the installation of the gangway, the Aqua Helix has arrived in the fnal stages of its sea trials, conducting a full shakedown of all its systems. The frst transfers using the gangway took place in March after which the vessel was available for customer demonstrations as a fully integrated ofshore crew supply solution. While some prospective customers have already visited the vessel in the port, it was the frst time that interested parties had the opportunity to experience her full potential out on the water. As a cost-efective crew transportation solution featuring the highest levels of both comfort and safety, Aqua Helix ofers a viable alternative to helicopter transport and has already gained substantial interest from clients in the southern North Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, and West Africa.

Aqua Helix is the result of close market consultation. The business case is based on its ability to transfer much larger numbers of personnel for longer distances at higher speeds. The vessel

ofers the opportunity to transport up to 120 personnel in a single trip at a maximum speed of 40 knots. This opens the door to moving away from day-rate structures towards a pay per journey model and, potentially, vessel sharing, whereby multiple ofshore installations can be served in a single round trip, thereby delivering substantial savings in both time and operational costs. With journey times of up to twelve hours, comfort and safety are key. For this, the vessel’s Sea Axe bow plays an important role, reducing slamming to a minimum. Meanwhile, the accommodation is located just aft of mid-ship – where pitching motions are barely experienced. Damen has incorporated interceptors to the vessel’s aft to reduce both pitch and roll motions during sailing. Inside, passengers have luxurious reclining seating with excellent visibility that helps connect them to the sea, enabling them to adjust and reducing the potential for seasickness.

The vessel also features a range of motion-compensating technologies to optimise the safety of crew transfers. These include, next to the Ampelmann gangway and VEEM gyrostabiliser, a Kongsberg DP system which operates alongside the MTU main engines, Hamilton waterjets, Danfoss shaft generators, Reintjes gearboxes, and Veth bow thrusters. Damen’s approach, which has been thoroughly tested via scaled models and simulations, has been to focus on enhancing the interaction between each one, creating a tightly integrated advanced control system that allows each part to excel in its specifc task, resulting in a system greater than the sum of its parts. The result is a tightly >>

integrated advanced control system capable of delivering and receiving personnel safely in a wide range of sea states. This will set new standards in the marine access market on a global scale. In line with Damen’s aim of becoming the most digitalised shipbuilder, Aqua Helix also features Damen Triton – a connected vessel platform. With sensors located around the vessel, the platform can collect information that will beneft operators, enabling remote monitoring, preventive maintenance, and efcient sailing, hence resulting in lower fuel consumption and emissions.

Damen and Ampelmann will manage Aqua Helix together. For this purpose, a dedicated joint venture OceanXpress has been established. Operating out of Den Helder, the initial focus of the vessel will be on the transferring of ofshore technicians for the oil & gas and ofshore wind industry in the southern part of the North Sea.