From a new versatile crew boat to a hybrid SOV that can operate stern first, these versatile newbuilds are among the most notable to join the offshore fleet this year
For Singapore-based Penguin International, Nigeria has proved to be a home away from home. It has delivered close to 80 crew boats and security boats for operation in the West African offshore oil and gas market. One of its newest deliveries to the region is M/V Greenboot, built for Nigeria-based GreenSwiift Group. Based on Penguin’s Flex Fighter design, the 40-m vessel is conceived as a multi-functional, high-speed transport platform. With cabins for 12 non-operational personnel and eight crew and reclining seats for 50 passengers, Greenboot is versatile, comfortable and fully compliant with ExxonMobil’s stringent requirements for Nigeria.
Digitalisation is part of the vessel’s DNA. Penguin International managing director James Tham tells Offshore Support Journal that all the firm’s Flex Fighters meet ExxonMobil’s stringent standards, but that Greenboot is the first to be equipped with FuelTrax Vision.
“The owner of Greenboot has gone one step further by installing FuelTrax Vision, an external CCTV system that features six IP marine environment cameras providing 360° minute-by-minute coverage of the vessel perimeter, backed by up to 10 weeks of high-resolution, time-stamped and location-stamped footage,” says Mr Tham. All video surveillance collected is integrated with FuelTrax’s fuel monitoring data and tracking information. All 2020 Flex Fighter models have Fueltrax EFMS as a standard feature.
In an age of data-driven decisions, FuelTrax provides the capability to decrease wear and tear on engines with better predictive maintenance, translating into increased fleet utilisation. Fueltrax reports that vessel owners and charterers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs by 5 to 10% or more, achieve reliable data delivery services for remote/virtual vessel management, increase transparency and decrease time compiling reports with automation and digitalisation built into the system.
Milestone lift supports subsea development
Built by Vard and delivered in H1 2020, Island Victory is a UT 797 CX deep-water installation vessel, with impressive versatility and capability, supported by a large cargo deck area of 1,200 m3, a 250-tonne active heave compensation (AHC) offshore crane, two fully integrated work-class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and LARS system permanently installed on board for depths up to 4,000 m, bollard pull of 477 tonnes and accommodation for 110.
With a length overall of 123.2 m and beam of 25 m, Island Victory is dynamic positioning class 2 capable. Working for Stavanger-based Ocean Installer in the Barents Sea, Island Victory achieved a company milestone, performing the heaviest lift by an Island Offshore vessel, with a load of 175.2 tonnes on a crane hook. The achievement occurred in April while the vessel was installing two subsea frames at Askeladd supporting Equinor’s multi-phase development of the Snøhvit field.
US-built PSV joins SEACOR Marine fleet
Houston-based SEACOR Marine has been carefully modernising its fleet, most recently adding eight new platform supply vessels (PSVs) – six of which use battery systems – through its acquisition of COSCO Shipping Group’s 50% of the equity interests in SEACOSCO.
Another notable PSV joining SEACOR Marine’s fleet in 2020 is the US-flag SEACOR Mixteca, built by Master Boat Builders, Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Part of a series, SEACOR Mixteca is dynamic positioning class 2 capable, with a GE Seastream DPS-2 system. With an overall length of 67.4 m, beam of 14.6 m, depth of 5.5 m and light draught of 1.91 m, SEACOR Mixteca has a clear deck area of 560.7 m2.
Propulsion power is supplied by two Cat 3512-C diesel engines, rated at 1,911 hp at 1,600 rpm.
For manoeuvrability, SEACOR Mixteca is equipped with two 800-hp Schottel STT 2 FP bow thrusters and two 350-hp Schottel STT 170 fixed-pitch stern thrusters.
With a FI FI class 1 notation, SEACOR Mixteca has significant fire-fighting capabilities, with fire monitors and a deluge system.
Multi-purpose ERRV
Aberdeen-based Sentinel Marine took delivery of multi-purpose emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV) Malin Sentinel in August. Built by Cosco Shipyard in Dalian, China, Malin Sentinel completes Sentinel Marine’s second phase of its newbuilding programme. Each purpose-built vessel feature Tier 4 Cat engines to reduce emissions and greenhouse gases to near zero. The firm also has three further vessels to be delivered from phase three of its newbuild programme.
With a length overall of 62 m, beam of 15.5 m, and draught of 4.6 m, Malin Sentinel has a clear deck area of 408 m2, with the capacity to carry 600 tonnes of deck cargo, 1,000 m3 of fuel oil and 500 m3 of fresh water. With a dynamic positioning class 1 capability, Malin Sentinel has a 15-person daughter craft and 15-person fast rescue craft, with a Dacon scoop, six-person rescue basket, Restech Rescue line throwers, night vision and surface surveillance equipment. It has a treatment room with a hypothermia bath, 26-bed recovery area and a 75-seat recovery area.
Hybrid SOV prioritises crew comfort
Delivered in June, Bernhardt Schulte Offshore’s service operations vessel Windea Jules Verne is supporting the Merkur Offshore Windfarm offshore Germany. Operating for GE Renewable Energy, the SOV is based on the Ulstein SX195 design from Norway’s Ulstein Design & Solutions and is 93.4 m in length with an 18 m beam. It has accommodation for 120.
A hybrid vessel, Windea Jules Verne has a diesel-electric propulsion system assisted by batteries.
Having hybrid propulsion system offers Windea Jules Verne several advantages: the SOV can use its batteries to handle short-term increases of load, rather than its gensets, saving fuel and energy. Additionally, the battery system functions as backup power; this means that DP operations can be carried out with only one genset in operation, saving fuel and lowering engine operating hours.
Crew comfort is also enhanced by the vessel’s Ulstein X-Bow and X-Stern, which leads to softer motions in heavy seas, significantly reducing slamming and vibration.
Windea Jules Verne can also operate stern first, when required.
Distinctive twin-axe bow for stability
Deployed under a five-year charter contract to MHI Vestas for the Belgian Northwester 2 offshore wind project, HST Euan is a Damen FCS 2710 class vessel.
Featuring Damen’s distinctive twin-axe bow design, HST Euan offers a stable, high-speed platform for safe operations at offshore windfarms.
UK-based High Speed Transfers (HST) took delivery of HST Euan, its fourth FCS 2710 class fast crew supply vessel, in January.
HST Euan is capable of carrying 26 passengers and operating in wave heights of more than 2 m, due to an extra metre of freeboard.
Built by Damen Shipyards Antalya in Turkey, HST Euan has an overall length of 26.8, beam of 10.8, with two Cat C32 TTA main engines that drive two fixed-pitch propellers via Reintjes ZWVSA marine gears, reaching a maximum speed of 25 knots.
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