Windcat Workboats

Windcat Workboats is a specialist offshore vessel operator focused on crew transfer and offshore logistics, primarily for the European offshore wind sector and additionally for the oil and gas industry and other offshore projects. Founded in 2002 by Neil Clarkson and Robbert van Rijk, the company is headquartered in IJmuiden, the Netherlands, and Lowestoft, UK, with additional offices in Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Poland, France, Singapore and Guernsey. Windcat designs and builds its vessels in-house, and operates a growing fleet of more than 55 crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and at least one commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV), supported by joint-venture fleets under FRS Windcat Offshore Logistics in Germany/Poland and TSM Windcat in France. Its vessels provide personnel and cargo transfer between shore, offshore wind turbines, platforms and other assets, and can also be configured for emergency response, standby duties, survey work, dive support and specialist tasks such as blade repair access and ornithological studies. The fleet ranges from early MK1–MK4 designs to the latest MK3.5 and MK5 classes, including larger vessels able to carry up to 45 technicians and MK5 units optimised for operations further offshore. Windcat has developed proprietary technologies such as the Windgrip self‑tensioning bow system to improve transfer safety and fuel efficiency, and a carbon‑composite “CarbonCube” accommodation structure to reduce weight, noise and fuel consumption. As part of CMB.TECH, the company is a first mover in hydrogen dual‑fuel propulsion: Hydrocat 48 and Hydrocat 55 are among the world’s first hydrogen‑diesel CTVs, and all new MK5 vessels are delivered hydrogen‑ready or with full hydrogen systems. Long-term charters, such as its five‑year agreement with Eneco and hydrogen trials with Vestas, support customers’ decarbonisation goals while Windcat maintains ISM and ISO 9001/14001/45001‑certified QHSE systems and multiple industry accreditations.