Trinity Delivers Anchor-Handling/Tug Supply Boat

Artabaze, the first anchor handling/tug supply boat built in the U.S. in over a decade and the first of its type built by a U.S. company for a French one, was recently delivered by Halter Marine, Inc., the subsidiary of Trinity Marine Group that designed and built the vessel. The vessel is about 218 feet long with a 46-foot beam, a 20-foot deep hull and 17-foot design draft. It is the first of two nearly identical vessels by Trinity for SURF of Marseilles, France, and will work first off the coast of France and later near Gabon, West Africa.

It is powered by two Caterpillar 3608 diesel engines developing a total of 7,260 hp through Reintjes VAL-3640 reverse/reduction gears. Electrical power comes from one Caterpillar 3406 diesel driving one 250-kW generator and two Caterpillar 3408 diesels driving two 350- kW generators.

One Caterpillar 3304 diesel drives the 60-kW emergency generator. The second ship will be powered by Caterpillar 3612 diesels developing nearly 11,000 hp.

John Dane III, Trinity president, said Artabaze reflects tremendous advances in computer- driven systems and design/manufacturing techniques over vessels of its „ype produced more than a decade ago, citing Artabaze's Robertson dynamic positioning system, Bollard pull capacity in excess of 80 metric tons, 16.5- knot speed, and Ulstein steering rudders. Adding to the vessel's maneuverability and thrust are twin four-blade Berg cp propellers in Kort nozzles. A Schottel bowthruster driven by a Caterpillar 3412 diesel adds to maneuverability and station keeping.

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