#IslandShipping- Wicklow based Island Shipping has become a Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) accredited course provider.

Island Shipping is to deliver the highest levels of service, safety and efficiency in response to the needs of the evolving work-boat and crew-boat sectors.

The substantial increase in workboat / wind-farm support vessel (WMSV) activity in the offshore wind farm market, made it clear to Island Shipping that there is a requirement for a dedicated seafarer training programme. This has led to a  Workboat Operations Training programme (of a 10 module duration) which is currently under development.

Island Shipping is in the process of running these training programmes for its own seafarers and has begun to train employees of other relevant organisations. All of the company's Workboat Operations Training courses are MCA approved.

The course programme covers wind farm transfer vessel training, navigation and watch-keeping, stability, towing, anchor handling and safety management on-board. For further information visit www.islandshipping.co.uk/training/

#POWER FROM THE SEA – Wicklow based Island Shipping's twin-screw tug Husky returned to her homeport last month having completed a 300-day charter at the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind-farm in the North Sea, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The multi-purpose 10 tonne bollard pull tug had provided logistical support to and from turbines and sub-stations at the SCIRA (Statoil & Statkraft) windfarm off the north Norfolk coast.

She leaves two of her fleetmates Island Tiger and Island Panther, a pair of 23-knot Wildcat 53 wind-farm support vessel (WFSV) catamarans based at the Sheringham Shoal where they are engaged in 24/7 crew transfer operations. In the meantime the Husky is now available for charter.

As previously reported they had previously worked at the Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind-farm in the North Sea after each of the 16m newbuilds where completed by Safehaven Marine in Cork.