James Fisher Marine Services (JFMS) and Supacat today announce the purchase of a Multi-purpose Vessel 24 (SMV 24).

The investment in the SMV24 vessel marks JFMS’s continued commitment to provide innovative solutions to clients that require high assurance when operating in the marine environments.

• New, flexible, multi-role DNV1A1 Wind Farm Service Code R1 classed offshore support vessel available for a range of operation and maintenance applications up to 150 nautical miles offshore
• State-of-the-art Supacat SMV 24 vessel, provides cost-effective, high performance and application flexibility
• Available as a fully managed solution backed by the operational experience and expertise of the UK's leading marine service company.
• Provides a platform for a range of specialist marine services including diving, ROV, operations & maintenance, accommodation & ship to turbine (STT™) oil change service

The SMV 24 vessel establishes a new benchmark in offshore support craft. With an overall length of 25.7 metres, it is powered by two MAN V12 diesel engines providing a maximum speed of 30 knots and fully loaded range of 675 nautical miles. The vessel is capable of carrying three standard ISO 20ft containers with 30T load, providing extensive and versatile deck space for equipment such as ROVs, specialist diving equipment, accommodation modules, ship to turbine (STT) oil change service and offshore facility maintenance equipment (generators, HPUs, bunkering, workshops, tool stores, service spares).

With the addition of optional high quality SOLAS A60 accommodation modules for 12 passengers and permanent accommodation for crew, the DNV1A1 Wind Farm Service Code R1 classed SMV 24 offers an ideal and highly cost-effective solution for servicing sites that are 150 nautical miles offshore for continuous trips of up to one week’s duration. The flexibility and versatility of this new SMV 24 vessel renders it capable of reducing both the number of dedicated use vessels and number of visits to site required simultaneously delivering significant cost reduction and increased operational flexibility.

“We are pleased to be able to offer this highly flexible offshore support vessel, to provide efficient and potentially cost-saving operation and maintenance solutions,” commented Andy Nattrass, marine operations project manager for James Fisher Marine Services. “This service is likely to be particularly of interest to the fast-growing offshore wind energy sector, for which we are able to combine it with bespoke innovations such as our ‘Ship-to-Turbine™’ oil transfer concept, an innovative and cost-effective method of exchanging gearbox and hydraulic oils for offshore wind farms. Whether providing services in marine renewable energy in this way, supporting offshore oil and gas operations, or enabling surveying and diving operations, the new SMV 24 vessel provides a highly flexible, multi-role capability that sets a new benchmark in offshore support.”

Nick Ames, managing director of Supacat, said, “We are delighted that JFMS has chosen to be  the launch customer for our new SMV 24 multi-purpose vessel. To have such a prestigious marine services company purchase the very first SMV 24 speaks volumes for the product and for its future potential in this growing sector. Today’s announcement is fantastic news for all at Supacat and we are very much looking forward to securing further SMV 24 orders and continuing to grow our presence in the marine sector. JFMS has clearly recognised the unique, flexible, multi-role offering any operator can benefit from by owning the SMV 24 and we are quite sure that others will be following their lead. This is a most encouraging start to our Marine engineering business."

Jim Hey, group business development director of James Fisher & Sons commented ‘The design concept of the SMV24 is unique in being able to carry three containers and 12 passengers to site enabling the vessel to undertake multiple tasks during a single mobilisation without the need to return to port at the end of the working day. This role flexibility fits with our strategy to create value for our customers in terms of operational efficiency and cost reduction, complementing the specialist marine activities of the group many of which are based around containerised assets and multi-skilled personnel.’