Fremantle, Strategic Marine Build OSV

Two Western Australian companies have cooperated to set new design and construction standards for multi-million dollar high speed vessels built specifically for the Australian offshore market.

Fremantle maritime support solutions company Samson Maritime ordered two 131.2 ft fast utility vessels from Henderson-based Strategic Marine last July, with the first of the vessels launched early this week at Strategic’s Singapore yard.

The vessel, named the Samson Supporter, has a top speed in excess of 25 knots, business class seating for 50 passengers with the ability to increase passenger numbers to 100 by utilizing a modular interior, accommodation for twelve crew members, 1,291.7 sq ft of deck space, as well as a central deck house.

Some of the unique features of the Samson Supporter are its use of dynamic positioning to allow the vessel to remain on station for extended periods and conduct accurate ROV work, and a moon pool to allow hydrographic survey equipment to be deployed in a secure housing.

The vessel also has an A-frame crane installed on the aft of the cargo deck and FiFi 1 for firefighting, including a vessel deluge system.

Samson Maritime Director Jeremy Williams said these features were not required by industry standard crew boats, meaning the two vessels were truly unique.

“These boats have the inbuilt flexibility to allow them to perform a wide range of both inshore and offshore maritime support tasks, including high speed supply runs, crew transfer, safety support and intervention and inshore and offshore survey tasks,” said Williams.

The Samson Supporter and its sister vessel, the Samson Supplier, which will be delivered in August, will service the highly active Western Australian oil and gas industry.

Strategic’s Singapore yard is also currently working to complete two other 131.2 ft utility vessels ordered by Malaysian offshore servicing company Dinastia Jati Sdn Bhd last September. These are due for delivery in July and September this year.