Holler Signs Contract With Hvide And Aker
Halter Marine Group, Inc. has signed a contract to build a new class of construction anchor-handling tug supply (CAHT) offshore support vessel for worldwide deepwater applications with emphasis on the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. The first-of-class, $37 million vessel will be built as part of a joint venture between Hvide Marine Inc. and Aker Marine Contractors, Inc., a subsidiary of Aker Maritime, Inc.
The 16,000 hp diesel electric vessel will be built at Halter's Moss Point shipyard and delivery is scheduled for early 1999. An option for a second similar vessel is available to the owners through mid-1998. Hvide Marine will supervise construction and operate the U.S.-flagged vessel, and Aker Marine Contractors will be the commercial manager with responsibility for directing the vessel's work and contracts in the anchor handling and construction markets. Overall, the CAHT will be 279 ft. (85-m) in length, with a 65-ft. (19.8-m) beam, 26-ft. (7.9-m) depth and approximate 22-ft. (6.7-m) loaded draft. Deck cargo capacity will be approximately 1,500 light tons. The vessel will be equipped with a diesel-electric Z-drive, azimuthing main propulsion system, dynamic positioning system designed to DPS-0 requirements with capability to DPS-2 and will generate approximately 120 metric tons of bollard pull.
In addition, the vessel will have a Fritz Culver three-drum hydraulically driven anchor handling towing winch with a bare drum line pull of one million lbs. on each after drum and a bare drum line pull of 780,000 lbs. on the forward drum, to handle sections of large diameter polyester rope for use in the mooring of MODU's, spars and other floating facilities.
Power will be produced by four remanufactured EMD16-710-G7B main diesel generator sets rated at 2865 kW at 900 rpm, and four rebuilt 3,000 hp DC motors will provide main propulsion. A free running speed of approximately 14 knots is expected. The ship's service generator will be a Caterpillar 3508 engine drive a 450 kW generator at 1,200 rpm. The emergency December, 1997 generator will be a Caterpillar 3306B engine driving an approximately 190 kW generator. An electro- hydraulic steering system linked to a dynamic positioning system will be available from two stations in the pilot house and one in the engine room.
Maneuverability and station-keeping will be aided by a 1,500-hp retractable azimuthing fixed pitch bow thruster and an 800-hp fixed pitch tunnel bow thruster.
The CAHT will also have a pivoting 300-ton capacity "A" frame crane for lifting over the stern, which will allow the deployment and installation of large suction anchors, templates and other subsea structures.
The boat will be capable of storing and handling more than 20,000 ft. of three-inch diameter chain and 52,000 ft. of 3.5 in. diameter wire, rendering it suitable for the transportation, deployment and installation of very deepwater preset moorings
