Damen delivers first of three seismic chasers

7-Oceans on sea trials

AUGUST 4, 2014 — Maskant Shipyards, Stellendam, the Netherlands, a member of Damen Shipyards Group, has delivered 7-Oceans, the first of three 35 m seismic research support vessel (or chasers), to offshore services company Rederij Groen for charter to Dolphin Geophysical

A major role of chasers is to act as guard vessels and to ensure that other shipping, mainly fishing vessels, keeps at a distance from seismic vessels engaged in offshore exploration to prevent their nets damaging seismic streamers trailing behind the survey vessels.

Originally, fishing vessels were used in this role and the 35 m design from Vestvaerftet in Denmark selected by Dolphin Geophysical is even closer to a fishing vessel compared to the two 40 m chaser newbuilds that Maaskant delivered to Rederij Groen last year (see earlier story).

For optimal maneuverability, two Veth azimuth stern drives (ASD) were chosen. They are each driven by an active front end, frequency controlled 500 kW electric motors. Power is generated by three 525 kVA Caterpillar C18 generator sets of . Additionally, a 90 kW electric bow thruster is installed.

The electronic package complies with an A4 service area, which enables the vessel, in combination with the ICE-class notation, to operate in Artic areas.

Accommodations are arranged for a crew of 6 with extra capacity for 8 service crew.  

The deck arrangement is similar to the previously delivered 40 m chasers Astra-G and Aquarius-G, which have been proven to be efficient in their first year of operation.