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infrastructure items are to be provided. is can lead to more ecient use of assets from one project to the next. Key information for optimization at this stage includes vessel motion responses, dynamic responses during loading key components, and operational limitations at various sites. is enables potential showstopper situa- tions to be avoided when identied early enough. Removing bottlenecks It is also possible to identify which equipment items are creating operational limits and focus attention on alleviating their use, choosing a dierent component, or rearranging the procedure to shift the use o the critical path. When an operation calls for some novel equipment, we undertake the process from the outset. e need is rst analyzed to identify the basis functions that should be performed. Complete systems developed and executed to date consist of numerous seafastening arrangements; substation transition piece transport (including J-tubes) and installation; recongurable deck arrangements for project service barges; ship-to-ship transfer systems for monopoles; and dynamic heave compensated upending shoe for monopiles. It may well be that a standard method is used more out of industry expectation rather than good common sense, a situation that should be addressed as early as possible. Increased operational limits will trans- late into realistic schedules and a faster installation. is type of approach also can apply to wind farm maintenance. e ongoing service cost of a wind farm is a critical factor, and installation vessels are far too expensive for maintenance and transport. It is likely that maintenance programs will run for longer periods of time, requiring greater accommodation and attention to diering operational proles. We have developed several concepts that aim to meet the variation of requirements set by maintenance needs. Periodic maintenance and replacement of small items, as well as inspections, require far more personnel transfers that that of large component replacement and service. e solutions require dramati- cally dierent functional approaches that are able to work both in parallel and individually. e key factors, as out- lined earlier, include vessels that can operate in higher sea states; work practices that enable safe operations in higher wind strength; and robust supply chain logistics. Realization of these objectives for a regular mainte- nance solution results in a dierent set of vessel design criteria. In this case, a robust supply chain could mean the capability to take on board replacement equipment and resupply the vessel at sea. Operations in higher sea states will principally involve transferring personnel. is alone requires a dedicated design for crew trans- fer vessels, where the focus is dramatically shifted towards vessel motions and dynamic interaction with foundations. Knud E. Hansen A/S has developed a crew transfer vessel, which has a patent pending, speci- cally to address both personnel transfer in higher sea states and reduction of vessel motions while underway. Highly controllable maneuvering when approaching foundation boat landings is a must, as is a means of reducing vessel motions during the docking and crew transfer procedure. MTRussell James Brice is senior naval architect at Knud E. Hansen A/S in Denmark. ABS Funded PhD Scholarship at Instituto Superior Técnico As part of its research cooperation with the Centre for Marine Technology and Engineering (CENTEC) of the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal, ABS is funding a new PhD scholarship to start in the academic year of 2012/13. The successful candidate is expected to have an appropriate background and to attend the doctoral programme in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at IST, conducting research, leading to a PhD dissertation. The working language is English. The selection of the candidate will be based on his or her CV and aptitudes. The conditions of the fellowship are those set out in IST?s rules and regulations governing research fellowships and grants, which in turn are based on the regulations of the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology. Send your application with full CV and covering letter to: Prof. C. Guedes Soares Centre for Marine Technology and Engineering Instituto Superior Técnico Technical University of Lisbon (UTL) Av. Rovisco Pais ? 1049-001 Lisboa - Portugal Tel: +351 21 841 7957 Fax: +351 21 847 4015 E-mail: centec@mar.ist.utl.pt Web: www.mar.ist.utl.pt October 2012 www.sname.org/sname/mt (mt notes) A crew transfer vessel with capacity for 12 passengers. Ship Flexibility continued