Autonomous SWATH vessels for wind farm inspections: a comparative study on operational efficiency
Autonomous SWATH vessels for wind farm inspections: a comparative study on operational efficiency
This study investigates the performance of autonomous SWATH vessels, both with and without foils, in offshore wind farm (OWF) operations near the Shetland Islands. Utilizing hybrid propulsion systems powered by Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) and batteries, the research focuses on the vessels' operational availability during critical ROV deployment tasks. Through numerical simulations and a real-world case study, the SWATH without foils consistently outperforms traditional monohull vessels in terms of stability and availability, particularly under challenging sea conditions. The findings highlight the advantages of SWATH vessels in maintaining consistent performance in harsh environments, crucial for the efficiency and safety of OWF maintenance. This study offers valuable insights into the operational benefits of adopting advanced SWATH vessel designs, demonstrating their potential to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of offshore wind farm operations.
131-147
The Royal Institution of Naval Architects
Korkmaz, S.A.
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Turnock, S.R.
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Taunton, D.
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Prince, M.
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Tinmouth, N.
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Tinmouth, M.
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20 November 2024
Korkmaz, S.A.
959074e1-2ec0-405c-b1ec-eeababef216b
Turnock, S.R.
d6442f5c-d9af-4fdb-8406-7c79a92b26ce
Taunton, D.
10bfbe83-c4c2-49c6-94c0-2de8098c648c
Prince, M.
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Tinmouth, N.
af423747-5e11-4599-ac86-4c2313a3da6d
Tinmouth, M.
fc59ea17-9287-4509-b880-416656bf04c3
Korkmaz, S.A., Turnock, S.R., Taunton, D., Prince, M., Tinmouth, N. and Tinmouth, M.
(2024)
Autonomous SWATH vessels for wind farm inspections: a comparative study on operational efficiency.
In Autonomous Ships 2024.
The Royal Institution of Naval Architects.
.
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
This study investigates the performance of autonomous SWATH vessels, both with and without foils, in offshore wind farm (OWF) operations near the Shetland Islands. Utilizing hybrid propulsion systems powered by Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) and batteries, the research focuses on the vessels' operational availability during critical ROV deployment tasks. Through numerical simulations and a real-world case study, the SWATH without foils consistently outperforms traditional monohull vessels in terms of stability and availability, particularly under challenging sea conditions. The findings highlight the advantages of SWATH vessels in maintaining consistent performance in harsh environments, crucial for the efficiency and safety of OWF maintenance. This study offers valuable insights into the operational benefits of adopting advanced SWATH vessel designs, demonstrating their potential to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of offshore wind farm operations.
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Accepted/In Press date: 2024
Published date: 20 November 2024
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 506329
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/506329
PURE UUID: db862d62-674c-47b5-8d06-2f577a031787
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Date deposited: 04 Nov 2025 17:57
Last modified: 05 Nov 2025 03:07
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Contributors
Author:
S.A. Korkmaz
Author:
N. Tinmouth
Author:
M. Tinmouth
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