SEABULK BULKS UP, TOO
While OSV operators may have had some recent challenges, like Tidewater's, they mostly continue to upgrade their fleets. The Seabulk Offshore group of companies, part of Seabulk International, Inc., recently added a UT-710 Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel (AHTS) to its fleet, making the 226-foot Seabulk South Atlantic the fifth newbuild vessel in Seabulk's 2003 fleet renewal program.
Built by Brevik Construction AS in Norway, the 10,850-horsepower Seabulk South Atlantic joins the Seabulk fleet on a five-year bareboat charter agreement that includes a purchase option at the end of the contract.
Larry D. Francois, president of Seabulk Offshore, commented, "Seabulk South Atlantic is equipped with the latest technology and will service growing markets in West Africa, working with the major oil companies who are demanding modern, state- of-the-art equipment to support their multi-billion dollar developments in the deepwater offshore."
The Seabulk South Atlantic produces speeds up to 15.5 knots, has a certified bollard pull of 133 metric tons, and provides a hefty triple-drum anchor handling/tow winch with up to 300 tons line pull and 450 tons brake load. The vessel also offers a large 123 foot by 50 foot deck that can handle up to 800 tons of cargo. Designed by Rolls Royce Marine, the UT-710 incorporates a substantial amount of Rolls Royce equipment, including the main engines, thruster, rudder, automation and control systems. Fitted with high Liquid Mud and Brine capability as well as Fire Fighting FiFi 1 class notation and Dynamic Positioning DP 1, the vessel's versatile capabilities allow her to serve in a multiple support role assisting heavy-duty semi-submersible rigs for exploration and development drilling, as well as fulfilling the rapidly growing demand for offshore terminal support work.
Earlier this year, Seabulk announced the addition of a newbuild PSV to its West Africa fleet—Seabulk Africa, two newbuild bareboat charters — AHTS Seabulk Badamyar and PSV Seabulk Nilar—for Indonesia, a new line-handler for Brazil—Seabulk Ipanema, and two newbuild PSVs for Brazil to be delivered in 2004 and 2005.
Promar Brazil (Estaleiro Promara I) is building the two UT- 755L PSVs for Seabulk Offshore do Brazil, Ltda., is part of Seabulk Offshore. The first will be delivered in the fall of 2004.
BETTER THAN NEW
This past summer, privately held Aries Marine Corp., Lafayette, La., took delivery of the 254-foot supply boat, Elsa Leigh. The Elsa Leigh, the ex-Seacor Clipper, underwent an extensive renovation at Bollinger's Morgan City shipyard. The new name is in honor of Elsa Leigh, the four year-old daughter of Courtney B. Ramsay, vice-president of Aries Marine.
Much of the work involved mechanical systems in the hull and replacement of about 30% of the boat's steel. The vessel was brought up to ABS DPS 1, FiFi1 and GMDSS Area 3 certification. Her two main EMD engines were removed and rebuilt by NREC in Houma, La., which boosted their power from 1,250 hp each to 1,500 hp each. The boat's old reverse/reduction gears were replaced with re-conditioned Falk gears to accommodate the higher horsepower and her two drive shafts were re-conditioned.
Elsa Leigh's Detroit Diesel 12V71 generator sets were "tuned up" and a Cummins KT-19 M3 700HP diesel engine replaced the existing Detroit Diesel bow thruster engine. That engine was re-conditioned and used to drive a fire pump that serves two new 11,000 GPM Stang fire monitors that Bollinger added to the boat.
Bollinger also adapted the stern to accommodate a Schottel skeg thruster unit powered by a Cummins KT-19 M4 600HP diesel engine delivering 600 HP. Two Cummins 6CT diesels were added to power new mud pumps and to drive Quincy air compressors that deliver dry bulk drilling mud.
Both dry and liquid drilling mud systems were totally upgraded. Bill Purvis, marine superintendent for Aries and project manager said, "Originally the vessel had dry mud tanks that were removed in the mid 1990's. We have installed four new dry bulk tanks rated at 80 PSI, giving the vessel 6,000 cubic foot capacity.
"We also converted six ballast tanks to hold liquid mud," said Purvis. "That, with the boat's four other liquid tanks gives Elsa Leigh a capacity for 4,169 barrels of liquid product."
Two new mud pumps powered by two Cummins 5CT engines were also installed. The pumps and their associated piping are two separate systems permitting the boat to carry two different types of mud without contaminating the other. The double pump system is also used for "mud swaps" in which the vessel delivers fresh mud to a rig and the rig pumps the old mud back to the boat.
Aries Marine Corporation currently has a fleet of nine OSV's and 14 liftboats.
