ExoTechnologies, a leader in maritime green technologies, has successfully delivered a fully recyclable, high-performance workboat to Orbital Marine Power, a pioneering tidal turbine developer. Constructed at Ultimate Boats’ Glasgow boatyard, this vessel is built from ExoTechnologies’ advanced DANUTM composite material, specifically designed to support Orbital’s O2 turbine— the world’s most powerful tidal turbine located off Orkney.
This groundbreaking O2 turbine, which has been in development for over 15 years in Orkney, serves as Orbital Marine Power’s first commercial demonstrator. The workboat itself is an 11-meter O-class Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RIB), capable of carrying eight people and equipped for the challenging sea conditions around Orkney. It features a specialised wheelhouse, shock mitigation units, and boasts an impressive operating range of 450 nautical miles.
The design innovations of the vessel are further highlighted by ExoHullTM technology, crafted under the guidance of Ultimate Boats’ chief designer John Moxham, who applied principles initially conceived during the XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber’s development. This allows the boat to navigate waters more efficiently, with enhanced stability and reduced fuel consumption.
Shane Mugan, CEO of ExoTechnologies, expressed pride in collaborating with Orbital Marine Power to foster advancements in green energy. He emphasized the importance of their recyclable DANUTM material technology in addressing the significant ecological challenges posed by traditional fiberglass used in boat construction, which often ends up in landfills. This partnership not only showcases the application of their market-leading technologies but also their potential to propel the green transition across various industries.
Orbital Marine Power has been dedicated to refining tidal energy turbine technology to significantly lower the cost of energy from tidal currents, with ongoing engineering developments and extensive testing since its inception in 2002.
The delivery of this vessel not only marks a significant milestone for ExoTechnologies and Ultimate Boats in their quest to revolutionise boat building with sustainable materials but also supports Orbital Marine Power’s mission to generate clean, predictable electricity sufficient to power around 2,000 UK homes and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 2,200 tonnes annually.
Read the full article – https://www.maritimeindustries.org/news/glasgows-ultimate-boats-delivers-fully-recyclable-workboat-tidal-turbine-pioneer-orbital-marine
