The Siem Moxie, an infield support vessel (ISV), will be put into operation in spring 2014. It is the first work boat with the Ulstein-designed X-Bow to be fitted with two Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP).

Forty X-Bow Vessels

X-Bow vessels are characterised by the absence of a bulbous bow. Their bow slopes backwards above the water line which results in reduced resistance and improved wave slamming characteristics on the foreship. Since 2006, forty vessels with this design developed by the Norwegian vessel designer Ulstein Design AS have been delivered or are currently being built. One of them is the Siem Moxie.

First Combination with VSPs

Designed for specific tasks in wind farms in the North Sea as well as in the Atlantic, the work boat with a length of 74 m and a beam of 17 m will be the first X-Bow vessel equipped with VSPs. The Siem Moxie will be fitted with two electronically controlled VSP of the size 28R5 ECS/234-2. They have a propulsion power of 1850 kW each and will be arranged in the stern. The two VSPs will also be used for active roll stabilisation as well as for dynamic positioning (DP class 2). The entire propulsion system as well as the DP system are controlled centrally. The interfaces for propeller and roll stabilisation control will be provided by Voith.

Lower Vibrations and More Efficient Operations

For the Siem Moxie, model tests were carried out at the Hamburg Ship Model Basin. The vessel is designed for a speed of 14.5 knots. The favorable interactions between the VSP and the X-Bow design result in lower vibrations, a reduction in fuel consumption and therefore in reduced emissions. The ship will not only allow faster transfers of the up to sixty crew to the wind farms, but will also ensure more efficient operation under DP conditions. Given the more stable position of the vessel, even adverse sea and wind conditions still permit work to be carried out on the 200 square meter work deck as well as close to the offshore units.

Roll Stabilisation

Once the Siem Moxie has reached its operating site, engineers can safely cross to the individual wind turbines using a gangway with a wave compensation unit – a process during which the advantages of the Voith roll stabilisation and the two VSP are at their most impressive.

Cable Laying

In addition to wind farm tasks, the Norwegian owner Siem Offshore AS intends to use the ship for cable laying operations in the North Sea and in the Atlantic. The vessel is currently being built by the Fjellstrand AS shipyard in Norway.

Picture: The Siem Moxie: First infield support vessel with the X-Bow Design and Voith drive system.