A long, narrow, wave piercing maintenance and supply vessel 1 is taught having powerful engines (11, Fig 3) to be able to travel quickly in heavy seas. Trim planes (21, Fig 4) on either side of the bow may be provided to either operate together to promote wave piercing, or operate independently to reduce rolling and/or yawing, or in a combination of both modes. Control of the trim planes would be via a gyro-stabiliser(s) (15, Fig 2) which also stabilises the vessel itself. The vessel transfers personnel and equipment between a base and a wind turbine, by mooring stern-on to the mast of the wind turbine in the lee of the mast, to transfer personnel and equipment to the access point of the mast. The transfer may be assisted by an elevatable transfer platform (30, Fig 70 provided at the stern of the vessel. This platform may also be gyro-stabilised.
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