Designed by Norway's Vik-Sandvik, the 260 ft x 60 ft x 24.5 ft Miss Jane Tide is a Class DPS-2 dynamically positioned vessel, inspected under USCG Subchapters I and L and is fully SOLAS compliant for worldwide use.

According to Luis A. Sanders, Tidewater Marine's assistant manager, new construction, the VS 480 design PSVs have large cargo carrying capacities and are equipped with automated cargo pumping systems that enable them to transfer cargo from the vessel to the platform at much higher rates. By transferring cargo at much faster rates, the time that the vessel spends near a platform is minimized, greatly reducing the risk of accidents.

The power generating plant in these diesel electric vessels consists of four 1,800-kW Kato generators, each driven by a Caterpillar 3516B. In addition, the Miss Jane Tide has a 350 kW harbor generator and a 99 kW emergency generator.

The two main propulsion Lips azimuth thrusters are each driven by three GE-752 hi-torque DC motors. Also fitted are an azimuthing retractable thruster and a tunnel bow thruster, each rated at about 1,100 hp.

There were several advantages to installing diesel electric power plants in lieu of conventional diesel propulsion systems in these vessels, says Sanders.

One advantage is that diesel electric provides maximum redundancy and reliability. In the event that one of the generators fails, the vessel can still maintain its station-keeping capability with only three generators, says Sanders. Another important advantage is that you can minimize the number of engines, depending on operational speeds and the environmental conditions. This:

• lowers fuel consumption;
• minimizes running hours on the engines, thus increasing the intervals between oil changes and lowering the production of dirty oil;
• reduces exhaust gas emissions because engine loads are maximized;
  
• is environmentally friendly.

The Miss Jane Tide is fitted with two large cranes, two 15-ton tuggers, two 10-ton capstans, a passenger elevator, and an incinerator for burning waste oil, thus reducing the need for waste oil disposal at the dock.

Slightly larger than the Miss Jane Tide at 276 ft, the Ace Nature is one of vessels Tidewater acquired from Sanko Steamship Co., Ltd. in late 2000. A UT 745 PSV, Ace Nature is one of the largest ships in Tidewater's fleet.

Larger still are a series of AHTSs Tidewater ordered from China's Yantai Raffles in Dec. 2000. Costing $175 million to build, the five 280 ft AHTSs are a KMAR 404 Class design. They will have capacities for 8,125 bbl of liquid mud, bulk mud tanks of 10,000 ft3, at deadweight of 4,613 LT at maximum draft and a winch line pull of 600 tons.

LARGEST AHTS?

In January Vik-Sandvik announced that Norway's Boa Limited had ordered a VS 4201 Offshore Construction Vessel from Spanish shipyard Factorias Vulcano SA.

The vessel will have a length of 120 meter over all, and a beam of 27 meter.(393.7 ft x 88.58 ft). This 27,000 HP vessel will be equipped with an anchor handling and towing winch of 500 tonnes. The vessel can operate both in conventional mechanical- and diesel electric mode according to the operational requirement.

The new construction vessel will not only be the largest Anchor Handler built, says Vik-Sandvik, but will also be fully equipped as an ROV construction vessel

Tidewater is also pushing ahead with plans for the renewal of its aging standard-size OSVs, according to company spokesperson Liberty Hodges. Back in Sept. 2001, Tidewater had temporarily suspended the program, earmarked at $100 to $125 million annually, until market conditions in the Gulf improved.

FLEET ADDITIONS BOOST HORNBECK-LEEVAC
Boosted by additions to its fleet, including two deepwater OSVs, Hornbeck-Leevac Marine Services Inc. posted strong results last year, more than doubling its previous years operating income to $27.9 million.

On Feb. 20, Hornbeck-Leevac took delivery of the 240 ft HOS Dominator, which immediately went to work under a three-year time charter, with a three-year renewal option, with Sonsub Inc., Houston, an affiliate of the ENI/Saipem Group, to support subsea completion services, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. This agreement is on substantially the same terms as the 240 ft HOS Innovator, which was delivered to Sonsub in April 2001. The HOS Innovator, a DP Class II vessel, is outfitted with a 200 hp Innovator ROV and a 36-ton, 80 ft box boom offshore crane. It has accommodations for 36 people, a moon pool, a roll stabilization system and the option to install a portable reel and vertical lay ramp system.

The vessel and ROV spread has been configured for light subsea construction, well intervention, flying lead and umbilical installations. It can also be used for route clearance and trenching of fiberoptic and power cables using one of Sonsubs cable/pipeline trenching systems.

Hornbeck-Leevac has three additional 265 ft class OSVs under construction at Alabama Shipyard, Mobile, Ala., and Leevac Shipyard, Jennings, La., for delivery this year.

Company president and CEO Todd Hornbeck says Hornbeck-Leevac is in discussions with a short list of customers to contract these OSVs. We remain confident in our ability to secure long-term contracts for these vessels on attractive terms before their delivery.

OTTO CANDIES SWEET ON DEEPWATER
Privately held Otto Candies, Des Allemands, La., has newbuilds under construction in the U.S. and the Netherlands. The Dutch yard De Hoop recently delivered the 230 ft x 59 ft ROV support vessel Caballo de Mar and has nearly completed the 267.7 ft x 59 ft Caballo de Trabajo. Caballo de Trabajo, which translated from Spanish means Workhorse, has a cargo deck area of 6,565 ft2, 17.7 ft x 17.7 ft moon pool, fuel oil capacity of 153,210 gal, fresh water capacity of 126,800 gal, a helicopter pad, accommodations for 118 and cruising speed of 11.5 knots.

De Hoop's U.S. shipyard, Houma Fabricators, Houma, La., is building a series of six 1,700 dwt OSVs. ML

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