Expert builder of custom floating accommodation solutions Chevalier Floatels is responding to growth in the renewables industry with the production of new offshore support vessels, designed to keep workforces safe, comfortable and mobile.
Chevalier Floatels is a young, energetic company with ten years of experience in the floatels industry. The firm, with its short communication lines, guarantees a fast decision-making process, and its growth strategy is based on expansion in dynamic positioning (DP) walk-to-work vessels, as well as new accommodation barges.
Chevalier Floatels’ vessels and their managers comply with safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) policies and procedures in accordance with international industry requirements, ensuring vessels are operated competently. The company ensures the safety and environmental protection of lives, craft and cargoes.
All aspects of Chevalier’s business are conducted with honesty and integrity. Its vessels are operated with electronic and web-based planned maintenance systems in order to perform and monitor high quality within budgetary limits.
The company’s ship managers are certified to the highest quality standards of ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004, and hold the ISM document of compliance.
Chevalier’s unique expertise is in developing new concepts for floating accommodation. Lean management, combined with innovative design and building techniques, is characteristic of the company and inherent to all its projects, which are managed in such a way as to meet the budgets and schedules of customers. Chevalier Floatels has successfully built, owned and operated a wide range of vessels, from five-star floating hotels with full facilities to worker accommodation barges and floating prisons for governments, to the full satisfaction of clients.
A breath of fresh air
In response to growth in the renewables market, Chevalier Floatels has developed two DP offshore support vessels, DP Gezina and DP Galyna. These state-of-the-art on-site accommodation and walk-to-work vessels support maintenance and installation projects for the offshore wind, oil and gas industries. Both boats are extremely reliable, efficient and comfortable. They are all-in-one solutions that are able to transport staff, tools and equipment to and from working locations, while also providing comfortable overnight accommodation.
An Ampelmann personnel transfer platform and walkway, which actively compensates for all vessel motions, has been located at a position on the bridge deck to provide optimally safe access to platform entrances and working decks. Platforms can be reached up to 20.5m above water level. Even with significant sea states and weather conditions, work can continue, resulting in an economic solution for safe platform access and more effective working hours. In milder conditions, boat landings for wind cats and support vessels increase the versatility of these ships.
Both vessels offer accommodation with en-suite bathrooms for 40 guests in single-occupancy cabins. Television, internet and games consoles in all cabins are just a few of the amenities provided. Ample recreational spaces with day rooms, fitness and 24-hour service are standard features on the vessels, which can accommodate up to 70 extra guests if need be, following modifications to the two-berth cabins.
The well-being and comfort of the crew and technical staff on board is paramount. However, there is also a significant focus on reducing operating costs (the vessels are extremely fuel efficient) and environmental aspects (low exhaust emissions).
The vessels have proven their capabilities in various North Sea eind energy projects for clients including Arreva, Bard, Forewind, OWS, Perenco, Siemens, Statoil, van Oord and VBMS, supporting installation and maintenance work and realising excellent incident-free and loss-of-time records.
