Silent Progress from Halyard

Halyard, Europe’s largest designer and manufacturer of specialist marine exhaust systems, will be helping to reduce noise and vibration on Offshore Progress - a new logical support catamaran for offshore wind farms.

Offshore Progress is a 15 metre alloy wind farm service vessel. It will join a fleet of 18 similar boats commissioned by South Boats Special Projects to be used by Offshore Wind Power Marine Services Ltd of Conway, North Wales. Each of the wind farm service vessels provide logistical solutions and engineer transfers to offshore wind farm builders and operators throughout European waters.

The vessels have been specifically designed for stability and crew safety. Offshore Progress will be required to operate in unpredictable and often hostile conditions at sea, where transferring personnel could take place in wave heights exceeding 3m. In addition to meeting the increasing demand for faster, more fuel efficient wind farm service vessels, Offshore Progress also caters for crew comfort, with engine and boat noise significantly reduced thanks to Halyard. Halyard has custom designed the engine and generator exhaust systems  for Offshore Progress and all of South Boats’ previous wind farm service vessels featuring an exhaust system. This has been achieved using stainless steel risers and oval lift silencers. The whole engine room area and jet spaces have been lined with Halyard’s Maritex noise insulation materials, which act to further reduce any transference of noise on board. The transom is fitted with Halyard’s stainless steel thru-hull exhaust flappers, which reduces the risk of sea water backing up into the exhaust system.

Ben Coleman, Sales and Operations Director of South Boats Special Projects Ltd said: “South Boats Special Projects is very happy with the service and quality of equipment supplied by Halyard. With Halyard’s experience, each of the vessels now have extremely low noise and vibration levels, typically with the passenger saloon as low as 60dB.”

Chris Champion, Joint Managing Director at Halyard said: “We are absolutely delighted that South Boats have once again chosen Halyard for this project. The crew and passengers will inevitably be facing tough conditions going to and from the offshore wind farms. As with the other vessels, Offshore Progress will be fast, comfortable and quiet, which any hard working crew deserves.”

Visitors at this year’s Seawork International Exhibition (10^th - 12^th June) will be able to see three similar South Boat vessels on the Seawork pontoons. Further information about Halyard’s involvement with the wind farm service vessels can be found at the Halyard stand (145) throughout the duration of the show.

Notes to editors:

• Halyard designs and produces systems for engines ranging from small diesel generators through to mighty power providers on super-yachts and commercial craft.
• Halyard is headquartered in Salisbury, UK and offers a complete project management and custom design service for its extensive range of internationally based clients. 
• From concept to final drawings presented in 2D and 3D CAD, Halyard’s experienced team offers expert advice and solutions to noise and vibration control systems and consistently delivers high quality and innovative products manufactured to the company’s established standards for reliability and performance. 
• Throughout any project the company’s integrated 3D CAD technology enables fast and accurate document and design exchange and delivery, anywhere in the world, to ensure the project is fully documented and recorded.
• In 2006, Halyard’s design innovation was recognised by the presentation of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Innovation. This was for the company’s design and development of a new range of highly effective exhaust silencers for large powerboats.

For more information please contact Chris Champion at Halyard (Marine & Industrial) Limited, Whaddon Business Park, Southampton Road, Whaddon, Salisbury, SP5 3HF, Tel +44 (0)1722 710922, Fax +44 (0)1722 710975 or visit the web site at www.halyard.eu.com

Further press information from Halyard (Marine & Industrial) Limited, Tel + 44 (0)1722 710922 or Fax + 44 (0)1722 710975; or from Kate O’Sullivan or James Tuck at ADPR 01460 241641 Fax 01460 242719 or email kate@adpr.co.uk  james@adpr.co.uk

April 2008 (Hal 200)