Over 200 Feet, Over 10,000 HP: McCall Builds Bigger
The US and global offshore industry are in the habit of watching what SEACOR Marine is building as this will invariably predict future goals for the industry.
Just as all the company’s crewboats carry the McCall name, they also carry the imprints of Joe McCall’s constant search for excellence and innovation. Son of the McCall Boat founder, Joe McCall is today the Project Manager at SEACOR Marine, a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings.
With a long history in the development of the mono-hulled aluminum crew boats, McCall has been experimenting with an exciting group of catamarans in recent years. Now, while continuing that project, the firm has announced the building of four mono-hulled fast supply boats. The boats set new standards in size as has been expected by industry observers.
The four new boats will be 202 by 34 feet. This is the same beam and 12-feet longer than a series of eight 190-foot boats that McCall was built between 2002 and 2011. Five of these boats were each powered by five, Cummins 50-liter engines for a total of 9000 hp. These boats achieved maximum speeds, with propellers, of 26 knots and with jets of 29 knots.
The new 202-foot boats will also be Cummins powered and will each have four Cummins QSK60 engines each rated for 2700 hp at 1900 RPM. These 60-liter engines will give each boat a total of 10,800 hp. Each engine will drive a Hamilton HT810 water jet through Twin Disc MGX61500 gears. This will give the vessels a design speed of 32 knots (light boat) or 20 knots loaded.
Cargo and passenger capacities are significant. The aft deck will have 3615 square feet of clear space capable of carrying up to 400 long tons. Tankage will be provided for 59,600 US gallons of fuel and 43,900 USG of water. Up to 64 passengers will be accommodated in reclining seats on the main deck level. Full accommodation with bunk cabins and galley will be built in the hull for up to eleven crewmembers.
Three paralleling 290 kW generators, each powered by a Cummins QSM11 engine, will provide electrical power. The boats will be ABS Classed DP2 with the DP system provided by Kongsberg. Each vessel will be fitted with three Thrustmaster 200 hp tunnel bow thrusters. Joe McCall explains, “The DP system, vessel monitoring system, and jet controls feature a dual, redundant can bus network linking each component. This is a ‘Fly by Wire’ technology.” The outfitted fast support vessels will have a ride control system to dampen pitch and roll. They will have IMO compatible treatment sewage plants, VSAT Communications and Satellite TV.
Four of the vessels are on order with two building at C&G Boat in Mobile, Alabama and two at Gulf Craft’s new yard in Franklin, Louisiana. The M/V Robert C McCall is scheduled for delivery from C&G in July 2013, with the M/V Clayton B. McCall to follow in October 2013. The two boats building at Gulf Craft are the M/V Eric & Alex F. McCall and the M/V Michael Crombie McCall to be delivered in November 2013 and April 2014, respectively.
