Featuring a twin-hull SWATH design, CASTOR is engineered to deliver improved seakeeping and passenger comfort during naval personnel transfer operations
Työvene Oy has delivered CASTOR, a specialised SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) vessel, to the German Navy following her arrival at her home port of Neustadt in Holstein.
The vessel was delivered on behalf of the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and will provide dedicated personnel transportation between the EAZS M shore-based naval facility in Neustadt in Holstein and naval units operating in Lübeck Bay.
Designed to accommodate up to 60 personnel, CASTOR will support the transfer of military personnel between shore facilities and larger naval vessels operating at sea, providing the German Navy with a dedicated and reliable transport capability.
The delivery marks an important milestone for Työvene, with CASTOR representing the third vessel in a series of five vessels being constructed by the Finnish shipbuilder for different customers. The programme demonstrates the shipyard’s expertise in designing and building specialised vessels tailored to demanding operational requirements.
The SWATH hull concept features two submerged hulls connected to the main body by slender struts, significantly reducing the waterplane area. This configuration helps minimise the vessel’s response to waves compared with conventional hull designs, contributing to improved motion characteristics and passenger comfort.
For personnel transport in a maritime environment, these characteristics can support safer and more comfortable transfers, particularly when operating alongside larger naval vessels. The vessel’s capacity of up to 60 persons makes CASTOR a dedicated solution for moving military personnel between shore and ships in the operational area.
CASTOR features a personnel transfer system that was specifically designed and built for the operation at sea. Starting from a vague idea of the system developed with Työvene’s design partners the Finish supplier network was used to realize this fully approved and tested device.
“The delivery of CASTOR is an important achievement for our team and a further demonstration of our capabilities in SWATH vessel design and construction. We are proud to deliver a vessel that will support the German Navy’s personnel transport requirements in Lübeck Bay. Being the third vessel in a five-vessel series for different customers also highlights the versatility of this vessel concept,” said Juha Granqvist, CEO, of Uudenkaupungin Työvene Oy.
