Commercial Rib Charter commission the build of the world’s first amphibious Crew Transfer Vessel

4 February 2022

Cowes, UK (04-02-22) – Commercial Rib Charter commission the build of the world’s first amphibious Crew Transfer Vessel for a six-year contract at RWE’s Scroby Sands wind farm off Great Yarmouth. In another first, ‘CRC Walrus’ is to be powered by Cox’s new 300HP diesel outboard engines.


RWE have been wrestling for several years with the difficulties of ever-changing sand banks restricting access to their Scroby Sands Wind farm. Aston Goddard of RWE challenged their specialist shallow draft CTV provider ‘Commercial Rib Charter’ to find an innovative solution. 


A textbook collaboration between RWE, RWE’s contract holder Commercial Rib Charter, naval architects Chartwell Marine and Isle of Wight based boat builders Diverse Marine has led to the design of the world’s first purpose built amphibious crew transfer vessel. The new boat is to be named ‘CRC Walrus’ in honour of R.J. Mitchells’ classic 1930’s Supermarine amphibious biplane.


‘CRC Walrus’ is a twelve-metre type approved crew transfer vessel with seating for two crew and eight passengers. There is a 750KG deck cargo capacity and the usual bow transfer system. Service speed is 23kts with a sprint speed of 29kts.


Powered by two Cox 300Hp diesel engines the vessel will draw only 80cm. The 600HP of motive power generated by the outboards will reduce fuel consumption by 50% over conventional inboard engines, thus further supporting RWE’s carbon neutral target.


‘CRC Walrus’ will transition from sea going to amphibious by lowering three hydraulically operated oversized wheels steered by a single nose wheel allowing her to ‘dock’ with the turbine ladder. The hydraulic system is powered by a generator.


Stuart Hedges of Commercial Rib Charter says ‘’The collaborative approach we have taken has helped mitigate the risk on such a technically innovative project. Working with highly competent marine architects and a boat builder steeped in experience has not only produced an excellent design but has done so to both budget and timetable. We signed the build contract with Diverse Marine in December, and we plan to be operational at Scroby in September this year.’’


Aston Goddard of RWE, who was himself a former CTV skipper on the windfarm is full of praise for the project. ‘’For many years we have trialled and tested various operational approaches to allow us to maintain continuous access to our turbines despite a rising seabed. Through the incredible support of both the internal RWE team and Commercial Rib Charter a bold and innovative vessel design has entered build which will deliver a step change in operational efficiency.’’ 


Ben Colman - Managing Director of Diverse Marine commented: “On behalf of the team at Diverse Marine and our UK supply chain I am delighted to have signed this contract with Stuart Hedges and Commercial RIB Charter. We have enjoyed a good relationship with Stuart and his operations team for over 5 years, supporting his existing CTV fleet and now adding CRC as a new construction partner. It is also great to be building this vessel for the Scroby Sands Offshore Wind Farm as we worked with the team there to build their last bespoke CTV ‘Eastern Aura’, now owned by CRC and named ‘CRC Vulcan’. Diverse Marine has a passion for the development of new technology that can be implemented in different market sectors and has a solid, proven track record of successfully delivering these projects in conjunction with many clients and supply chains. This 13m amphibious CTV is in good company and one we are super keen and grateful to be involved with. The team will take a very active role in configuring the vessel for its role at Scroby Sands.

 

Andy Page of Chartwell Marine commented: ”For Chartwell Marine this project represents another great opportunity to provide an innovative solution to a difficult challenge. We have been designing boats for offshore wind for over ten years now and as such have fond memories of running out the pier heads in Great Yarmouth to Scroby Sands. I think almost all the vessels that we have been involved in on the east coast have been tested there. RWE have always been very receptive to new ideas and have let us trial a number of concepts over the years including but not limited to novel bow fendering/ transfer solutions. This boat is a clear example of that, and represents a coming together of ingenuity and engineering capability between site manager, vessel operator, designer and builder. We are hugely grateful to Stuart and CRC for bringing us into the consortium and are looking forward to the build of the boat with the rest of the team.” 


Diverse Marine’s Finance & Lease Programme Delivers Two CTVs, with Five More in Build

27 February 2025
Cowes, UK (27-02-25) Since launching its Finance & Lease Programme in November 2023, Diverse Marine has successfully delivered two crew transfer vessels (CTVs), with three more currently in build for delivery this year and two further shortly thereafter of the first batch.The programme continues to operate as a rolling initiative, providing new-build CTVs based on customer demand. The first vessel completed under the programme was NR Alpha, which was unveiled at Seawork last year. This Storm Class CTV has set new benchmarks for fuel efficiency and performance, leading NR Marine Services to order a third vessel—NR Rival, the first of the new Typhoon Class CTVs. NR Rival was delivered in January 2025. TheTyphoon Class features a hull form designed for exceptional head-sea performance and tower access while maintaining high buoyancy reserves for superior seakeeping in following and stern-quarter seas. It also comes with Zero Emissions (Power Management) class notation, recognising its efficiency in reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Stock Build 3, a first Brevity Class CTV is undergoing sea trials with the vessel available for quick delivery following rebrand to suit a prospective clients requirements. Stock Build 4, to be named NR Rebellion, a second Typhoon Class CTV, is now in its final build phase, with the wheelhouse and saloon fitted earlier this month. Again ordered by NR Marine Services, she is scheduled for launch and sea trials in March. Owen Nutt, Director at NR Marine Services, commented: “Receiving three world-class CTVs in the last 10 months has been transformative for our business. Each vessel has outperformed expectations in speed and efficiency, delivering significant fuel cost savings for our clients.This success has given us the confidence to order another Typhoon Class CTV and another Storm Class CTV through Diverse Marine’s Finance & Lease Programme, and we look forward to putting them to work soon.” Meanwhile, Stock Build 5, to be named NR Hunter, a third Storm Class CTV, is currently under construction at Diverse Marine’s facility in Cowes and will be launched at Seawork in June. Stock Build 6, an Ambitious Class CTV is also currently under construction and will be delivered to OEG, whilst Stock Build 7, a further Brevity Class CTV, will follow in Q3/Q4 of this year. Ben Colman, Director at Diverse Marine, added: “The success of our Finance & Lease Programme is proving that high-quality, next-generation CTVs can be more accessible and affordable for operators. By reducing the financial barriers to vessel ownership, we’re enabling companies to upgrade their fleets with more efficient and capable vessels. With four more vessels in build and strong interest in future slots, we look forward to continuing to support the offshore wind industry with innovative financing and cutting-edge designs.” For more information on the Diverse Marine Finance & Lease Programme, including availability and build slots, please contact Ben Colman or Peter Curtis on 01983 300656.

Diverse Marine Start Construction of CSOV Daughter Craft

12 June 2024
Seawork, Southampton, UK (12-06-24) Diverse Marine is proud to announce that it has been selected by VARD GROUP AS to construct a Chartwell Daugher Craft to be installed on a VARD 4 19 CSOV under construction for PURUS Wind. The 12m catamaran daughter craft,designed by Chartwell Marine in Southampton features a twin IMOTier-3Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system to reduce emissions and provide good performance when deployed from the CSOV.  Ben Colman, Director of Diverse Marine:“I am very proud of this contract award, something different for our small boats team off the back of small military craft, amphibious CTV, survey vessels and a fast passenger vessel. If there is sufficient demand for daughter craft of this type then we may consider a stock build programme similar to the CTV’s to have craft available without the burden of construction finance and stage payments.”

Diverse Marine & NR Marine Services announce the launch of NR ALPHA

10 June 2024
Diverse Marine and NR Marine Services and proud to announce the launch of the second of class Storm Class CTV, NR ALPHA that is now proudly being displayed at Seawork 2024 in the Port of Southampton on berth VB21. NR ALPHA is a sister to NR PREDATOR delivered in March this year. NR PREDATOR has performed very well on her first contract with higher performance levels and substantially lower fuel burn and emission levels than other similar vessels on the same project. The Storm Class measures 27.6m LOA by 10m BOA and is fitted with a quad IMO Tier-3 Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system. Its unique hull form features a very fine entry with higher buoyancy reserves above the main chines and resistance reducingsolutions integrated into the underbody. A resilient superstructure ensures very low noise and vibration levels in the passenger saloon with the first recording sub 55dBA at full power. NR ALPHA is the first vessel from the Diverse Marine Finance and Lease Programme announced late last year and the first of three vessels being delivered to the scheme this year. The programme allows Diverse Marine to build offshore wind crew transfer vessels to stock for onward lease or sale. The scheme removes the requirement for clients to source construction finance and Diverse Marine can offer the vessels on lease/hire purchase with 0% deposit, a fully funded solution with payments monthly in arrears. Ben Colman, Director of Diverse Marine:“We are delighted to announce the build of NR ALPHA for NR Marine Services.Theperformance of NR PREDATOR has exceeded everybody’s expectations with exceptionally good performance, fuel efficiency and reliability, a testament to the high quality produced by our team at Cowes”.  Owen Nutt, Director of NR Marine Services: “The addition of NR ALPHA to our fleet so soon after NR PREDATOR is testament to the growth and forward plans set out by our business to add high quality, high performance and efficient vessels to our fleet. Diverse Marine’s Storm Class is the result of the KPI’s we provided to Walker Marine Design and the ship yard. With NR PREDATOR all of these KPI’s were met with the vessel proving to be faster and more efficient that predicted. We are very pleased and excited that we can add NR ALPHA to the fleet and provide our clients with class leading vessels that can save £100,000’s of fuel cost annually without any compromise”.
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