News
AHTS: First of 54
Guido Perla and Associates, Inc. said that the first GPA 254L AHTS, one of 54 59.8-m identical vessels for French Maritime Services Provider Bourbon Offshore, is currently under construction at Dayang City Shipyard in China. In 2006, Bourbon had placed an order for 26 of the GPA 254L AHTS and had expanded the order in 2007 by 28 additional vessels, which will be built at the new Zhejiang facility in Ningbo. The diesel-electric propulsion configuration consists of three 1,825 kW main diesel generators, one 170 kW emergency generator, two 1,685 kW Azimuthing Z-Drives, one 1,685 Fixed Z-Drive and two 570 kW bow tunnel thrusters, is aimed at increasing fuel efficiency. The engine room is located above the main deck, eliminating drive shafts and maximizing the below-deck cargo carrying capacity of these vessels, creating capacities usually found in larger vessels. Thus, the vessels are capable of transporting 544 cu. m. fuel oil cargo, 157 cu. m. bulk mud, 660 cu. m. liquid mud, 345 cu. m. drill water, 355 cu. m. fresh water and 117 cu. m. ballast water. With these proven designs, the slightly higher center of gravity coupled with effective dampening has produced a vessel that has very comfortable roll characteristics While Bourbon principally intends the vessels to be used for the replacement market operating in the continental offshore arena, the characteristics of this vessel make it an excellent supply vessel for deepwater offshore operations. The series is expected to be completed in the spring of 2011.
Dayang City Shipyard in China
August 2008
www.marinelink.com
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