Vessels: HOS Bluewater Delivered by Leevac

On March 16, 2003, Hornbeck Offshore Services (HOS) took delivery of the HOS Bluewater from LEEVAC Industries LLC. The vessel was delivered to Hornbeck Offshore two weeks ahead of schedule and immediately began a term charter for an unnamed operator. The HOS Bluewater is the first of four deepwater OSV's that will be delivered to Hornbeck Offshore by year's end. Designed by and built for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC, the HOS BLUEWATER is the company's seventh DP-2 vessel.

HOS Bluewater measures 240 x 54 x 19-ft. The latest of the HOS "New Breed" has been uniquely engineered to offer numerous advantages over existing tonnage. The unique hull form assists in making the Bluewater a very DP capable and fuel-efficient vessel. The vessel is certified to both USCG Subchapter L (OSV) and I (Freight and Industrial Service) and is fully SOLAS for international operation. The American Bureau of Shipping has classed the vessel as +A1, +AMS, +ACC, DPS?2, Offshore Support, Oceans. Two (2) Caterpillar 3516 B main engines produce 4,000 bhp, which drive two 96-in. Scana Volda CP propellers. Three 800-hp CP tunnel thrusters (two forward, one aft) are provided by Brunvoll for a total of 2,400 hp. Two Van der Velden "Fishtail"-type rudders operate independently to provide superior maneuverability and vessel control.

With improvements over previous OSV's, the design offers optimum deck space and load capabilities. The vessel's deadweight is 2,758 long tons that can be offloaded with state-of-the-art pumping systems featuring positive displacement pumps. The clear deck area for cargo loading is 175 x 45-ft. with a cargo capacity of 1,725 long tons and a deck rating of 1,024 lb./sq. ft (5 mt/m²). HOS Bluewater is engineered for maximum loading capabilities. The liquid mud tanks are set up to carry multiple products without cross contamination. Available liquid mud capacity is bbls. It can carry 107,200 gallons of fuel, 322,000 gallons of rig water and 30,800 of potable water. Four dry bulk tanks can carry 6,240 cu. ft. of product. Navigation equipment includes the JSPD P5000 DP system provided by Nauxtronics. The electronics suite selected by Hornbeck Offshore and installed by Beier Radio offer the crew state-of-the-art tools needed to operate safely and efficiently. Other advanced technologies in this suite include radars providing real-time chart plotting software and touch-screen monitoring systems.