CTruk Boats, which is based in Brightlingsea, has celebrated the launch of first-of-class CTruk MPC22 vessel CWind Sword ahead of sea trials and its deployment to Germany.

The 22m multi-role composite workboat has been built for leading offshore wind service provider CWind and its boat share partner, Ventus Workboats, with the CWind Sword due to start work on a CWind contract for EnBW on the Baltic 2 offshore wind farm in December.

Built to Bureau Veritas classification rules, the CTruk MPC22 is a catamaran, with a 7.5metre beam and 1.25m draft, constructed from advanced FRP composite for weight-saving strength.

With a 20-tonne flexible payload capability and the ability to carry 24,000 litres of fuel, she is designed to deal with rougher seas, longer transits and tougher assignments whilst maximising passenger and crew comfort.

New features on the vessel include a protected controllable pitch propeller (CPP) system which, coupled with the Volvo D13 engines on CWind Sword, will give optimal bollard pull and service speeds, significantly enhancing the already renowned fuel efficiency of CTruk’s composite cats and still allowing the boat to take the ground and dry out at low water.

CTruk’s patented moveable wheelhouse and modular deck pod system will enable the vessel to fulfil multiple roles, transferring technicians in comfort or equipment such as cranes, transfer systems and rescue vehicles on 72square metres of deck space.

CWind chairman Chris Randle said: “The MPC22 builds on the versatile design features of the successful CTruk MPC19 [formerly CTruk 20T MPC] which has had an outstanding level of mechanical reliability and this has translated into excellent availability on contracts.

“This new workboat will be a great addition to the CWind fleet and we fully expect that the performance of this vessel will be outstanding in both the construction and O&M market, with its enhanced design, speed, comfort and transfer capability. I am very excited to see the benefits this vessel will bring to both CWind and our customers.”

The vessel was named CWind Sword during an informal ceremony in Brightlingsea, in honour of beach which carried the code name “Sword” during the Normandy landings in 1944 and where the grandfather of one of the three ex-Royal Marines that who Ventus Workboats landed during the Second World War.