Diverse Marine Launch UK First Finance & Lease Programme

23 November 2023

Diverse Marine is pleased to announce the introduction of the Diverse Marine Client Finance Programme, their own finance and lease programme. The programme is designed initially for the financed construction of offshore wind crew transfer vessels.


Over the last 24 months, Diverse Marine has witnessed the pressures that our clients and vessel owners are under and the difficulties they face justifying builds in the UK, with conventional vessel procurement methods uncompetitive against yards in Europe, Scandinavia and the Far East - who can offer procurement terms without the need for stage payments through the construction phase.


The solution was to find a mechanism whereby the shipyard funds the construction of the vessels giving the owner/operator the ability to “collect” the vessel on completion through term finance or long term lease options. 


Diverse Marine has listened and can now offer this with immediate effect through the Diverse Marine Client Finance Programme. Financing for an initial, but rolling, eight vessels has been allocated, with the first vessels already in build for delivery in 2024.


With the UK Government targeting 50GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030 from the current 15GW and European member states targeting a collective 111GW offshore wind capacity by 2023, the European and UK supply chain needs to provide solutions as to how this can be achieved. 


Funding for offshore wind CTV’s has been challenging and the Diverse Marine Client Finance Programme aims to ease and overcome the challenges to ownership and operation of crew transfer vessels.


Peter Curtis, an independent marine finance consultant, has been instrumental in setting up the new programme for Diverse Marine and continues to play a vital role in the day to day running and liaison with clients as Customer Finance Director.


Ben Colman, Director of Diverse Marine: “The introduction of this in-house programme is the result of over 12 months of discussions with funders after listening to the needs of our clients. For UK yards to remain globally competitive, the need to talk monthly lease figures or monthly repayment figures has become more critical than capital purchase costs. The scheme is unique in how it is set up and unique in terms of the finance solution that we can offer our clients”.


Peter Curtis, Customer Finance Director adds: “The financing of CTV’s with Diverse Marine fulfils decades of ambition with UK operators and UK shipyards and to finally be able to launch this programme is very exciting for the industry.”


Diverse Marine would like to acknowledge the considerable effort that has been put into the programme to date from Graeme Laing of LCM Partners, their legal team at Ernst & Young LLP and Diverse Marine’s own legal team at Stephenson Harwood LLP.

Diverse Marine and OEG Marine Services extend partnership with three further CTVs

20 October 2026
23-09-26 Hamburg, WindEnergy 2026

50 Vessels. One Diverse Marine.

3 October 2026
Diverse Marine is celebrating a significant milestone in its story, marking 50 vessels with a rather different viewpoint. From crew transfer vessels and lifeboats to daughter craft, specialist workboats and high-speed passenger vessels, the first 50 vessels represent the breadth of work undertaken by Diverse Marine and the expertise of the team behind them. Built in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, Diverse Marine vessels are now working across offshore energy, search and rescue, commercial marine and passenger operations around the world. Built by a team Every vessel begins with a different requirement. Some are designed to transfer technicians safely and efficiently to offshore wind farms. Others support search and rescue operations, carry passengers or undertake specialist work in demanding environments. Behind each one is the same combination of naval architecture, engineering, fabrication and craftsmanship, together with close collaboration between Diverse Marine, its clients, designers, suppliers and partners. Reaching 50 vessels is therefore about rather more than a number. It is a reflection of the people who have designed, built and delivered them. Celebrating a little differently To mark the milestone, Diverse Marine decided that the usual photograph at the shipyard gates was not quite enough. So, with FARRA ERIU providing the backdrop to the celebration, the team took to the water – and the skies – above the Isle of Wight.

NR Marine Services commissions Chartwell Marine to bring a new legacy turbine vessel to the market

11 June 2025
Southampton, 17th June 2025 — NR Marine Services is excited to announce that it has commissioned Chartwell Marine, a trusted pioneer of next-generation vessel design, to design a new CTV in response to client requests for a new class of vessel that is capable of supporting older generation assets, now referred to as legacy turbines, but utilising modern construction and outfit technology to maximise vessel fuel efficiency and technician comfort. It has been a generation since UK based Naval Architects and Shipyards designed a sub 22m, sub 60 tonne, sub 3m bow height crew transfer vessel. Chartwell Marine has developed the ‘Defiant Class”, a 20m CTV designed to Workboat Code Edition 3 with IMO Tier 3 compliance featuring a step free flush forward deck, resiliently mounted superstructure and modern furnishings and materials used in larger CTVs. This is a bold, DEFIANT step to do different, to create a new class of smaller CTV required for legacy turbines whilst not losing the core identity of modern UK designed, UK built and UK operated CTVs. DEFIANT in compliance, this new class of CTV will comply with Workboat Code Edition 3, IMO Tier 3 and the spirit and core fundamentals of HS_OSC – albeit in a more cost-effective approach. DEFIANT in pricing, it is essential the new class is cost effective in the modern market. UK quality but smartly sized to benefit from UK supply chain core strengths and therefore pricing. DEFIANT in reliability, working with supply chain to integrate a new, smaller Quad IPS IMO Tier 3 or Hamilton Waterjet propulsion solution with high power to weight ratio whilst maintaining simple, quality and reliable engineering. DEFIANT in change, accepting most legacy turbines have unique site requirements, the vessel retains flexibility to be tailored to different projects from a water jet propulsion system for shallow water sites and hybrid options where budgets allow to internal modularity to suit different racking and seating solutions. Andy Page of Chartwell Marine Ltd. said: “It is always enjoyable bringing a new class of vessel to the market. What’s interesting in this case, is the vessel is based-on “legacy vessel” parameters but with modern up-to-date experienced thinking. With the Defiant Class, we are able to utilise our proven high efficiency, high seakeeping performance hull form, in a smaller, more dynamic cost-effective platform, appropriate for the legacy turbine projects the vessels are intended to support”. Richard Thurlow of NR Marine Services Ltd. adds: “NR Marine Services is excited to be the first to bring the brand-new Chartwell DEFIANT Class CTV to the market. With strong industry focus being on the HSOSC market space, the CTV development has been taken away from the smaller vessel market. Working closely with Chartwell Marine and Diverse Marine we have looked at incorporating as many of the recent CTV developments a possible into a smaller package. Step free access from deck level to bow step over point, tiered seating, Male and Female heads, comprehensive galley suite and optimised hull design for near shore projects. Following an internal fleet review long with external market research, the data shows that there is a potential to replace older tonnage which is between 10-15 years old for near shore projects which have a lifespan that warrants investment in new CTV’s”. Ben Colman of Diverse Marine Ltd. adds: “Many years ago, the UK proved that building large numbers of smaller CTV’s was possible but these times have been forgotten as the CTV industry as evolved into larger. HS-OSC compliant craft. It is both exciting and challenging to be involved a project to build a new smaller CTV that meets the growing demand for legacy turbine access with modern technological compliance, modern materials, high fuel efficiency, hybrid options. Put simply the Defiant hosts, a modern, clean and spacious environment but on a smaller highly efficient platform that suits the smaller harbours, short transit sites and shallow water projects." ENDS Chartwell Marine is a trusted pioneer of next-generation vessel design. A reputed naval architect with an industry-leading track record designing award-winning high-speed vessels, Chartwell Marine supports ambitious boat builders and vessel operators around the world with specialist, independent design and consultancy services. To find out more, please visit: http://www.chartwellmarine.com/ About NR Marine Services: At NR Marine Services Ltd. we own and operate a fleet of seven vessels. Our services are available in the UK and throughout Europe. We pride ourselves on our offshore wind industry experience of more than 20 years’, including management of crew transfer vessels, turbine management in construction, commissioning and operational phases. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Great Yarmouth our vessels are available for a wide range of duties. To find out more, please visit: https://www.nrmarine.co.uk
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