The Story of Asherah

Asherah, launched in March 2011, is the newest multi-purpose catamaran from the CTruk Boats’ facility and features the flexible pod system, which enables her operators to change the vessel’s layout to suit the circumstances within a matter of a few hours. By moving the wheelhouse from the front to the back for example, operators can easily adapt the vessel to carry out a variety of different tasks, such as; ferrying personnel, carrying service generators, cranes or survey gear and even adapting for military use.

CTruk prides itself on its mantra better, safer, faster, more cost-effective, which also drives innovation within the company. Focussing on safety means the team found ways to make the traditionally heavy doors on work vessels, up to 65% lighter by using a resin infusion technique. CTruk chose Rolls Royce water jets over propellers. This means that Asherah is more effective in shallow drafts, but also reduces problems with debris in the water, which can often result in a day a month out of action.  In addition, the jets’ Vector Stick controls are designed to be intuitive, making it easy for the skipper to use automatically, even when being bombarded with other information whilst moored at the turbine.

First trialled on the Gunfleet Sands off Brightlingsea where Asherah was built under DNV survey, the flexible pod system was chosen to carry out the transfer of wind farm transition pieces because its unique ability to move the wheelhouse aft gave clear working decks forward and good visibility of the lift for the skipper. Once the generators had been returned, the passenger pod was lifted back on to carry out crew transfer duties.

CTruk specialises in the design, build and operation of wind farm support vessels.  It also takes very seriously the importance of feedback. Hard won operating experience from the prototype was fed back directly into the design of Asherah, resulting in small but significant benefits like the position of the bollards. Normally on the outside for work boats, on Asherah they are shifted to the inside, making it easier to tie-up to the wind farm posts. These may appear to be small changes, but shaving a few minutes off each trip, makes it safer and quicker, less wearing on people and the boat.

Competition for the wind farm support vessel market is growing with boat builders from Australia, Holland and Norway entering the sector. CTruk Boats is a UK, home grown company with a proven, innovative vessel. Asherah has now reached the final round of the SeaWork 2011 Innovation Showcase, a huge testament to the team’s original idea and commitment to building better, safer, faster, more cost-effective boats for the offshore industry.

Tags: Asherah, CTruk