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In a competitive market, OSV operators are looking for vessels that can do more from within a smaller platform. Similarly, yards are seeking designs that offer ease of construction, without sacrificing anything in the way of vessel performance. As we went to press, newcomer Rigdon Marine LLC was poised to take delivery of the first of a series of revolutionary new Platform Supply Vessels from Bender Shipbuilding. Controversially, the boats have been built with financial assistance from France’s Groupe Bourbon, which has caused a few ripples in the Jones Act portion of the Gulf of Mexico market. The boat design also promises to give competitors a twitch or two. They have been designed from the ground up to meet the changing requirements and demands of oil companies for a cost-effective, high specification platform supply vessel for the Gulf of Mexico market. The vessels are diesel-electric and equipped with a DP2 level dynamic position capability for superior station keeping. There are three main generator sets, two based on Cummins QSK 60 diesels rated at 1,825 kW (2,500 hp) each at 1,800 rev/min, 480 V/60 Hz and one Cummins KTA 38 based set rated at 910 kW (1,220 hp) at 1,800 rev/min, 480 V/60 Hz. The boats have been designed by Seattle, Wash., naval architect Guido Perla and Associates, Inc. (GPA), which is also the designer of a series of four slightly larger (73.2 m) PSV’s that Groupe Bourbon is building at China’s Zhejiang Shipbuilding The vessel designs are distinguished by both high operational efficiency and high construction efficiency. Guido Perla Associates says the hulls of its PSV’s vessels are designed using standard GPA-developed hull forms that are easy to construct and provide comparable hydrodynamic, seakeeping, capacity and DP characteristics to that of standard European complex hull forms. This is achieved with the use of single curvature hull surfaces. These types of surfaces are easily formed without the use of steel forming equipment, and therefore eliminate a considerable amount of construction labor. Steel and labor are the areas of construction where the builder has the most ability to control costs and stay competitive. By reducing the construction complexity, without compromising on performance, GPA PSV’s can be built competitively despite higher labor costs. The vessels’ diesel-electric propulsion brings flexibility to the development of the internal arrangement of the ship and maximizes the ability to optimize space capacity for any sized vessel. The diesel-electric solution is also very efficient during maneuvering and DP operations. These qualities result in fuel savings during operation of the vessel compared to standard direct diesel drive vessels. Diesel electric also provides more flexibility in hours sharing for the main propulsion generator sets. During normal operations the generator sets can also be rotated, thus allowing for better overall sharing of equipment working hours. It also facilitates equipment overhaul with minimum amount of down time from operation. Working space layouts have been optimized for the operation and maintenance of the vessels without detrimental effects on vessel construction cost. Reducing the costs associated with maintenance and lack of operational efficiency will create a more efficient, safe and cost effective operation throughout the vessel life. Ergonomic design, noise and vibration levels and the general appearance of the vessel are all priorities for all of GPA designs. “A crew comfortable with the general accommodation arrangement of the vessel and its general appearance is inevitably a more positive crew, and will therefore perform at higher levels of efficiency and with a better safety record,” says the company. “If you feel proud of your workplace you are more willing to perform at higher levels of productivity.” |
