New OSVs Bolster Operations

Two new 220 ft. OSVs, rigged for flexible, efficient operation, are beginning to pay off for Gulf Offshore Marine, an affiliate of GulfMark Offshore, Lafayette, La. The sister vessels, measuring 217.5 x 54 x 20 ft., with a 16.1 ft. loaded draft, were launched in late 1999 from Bender Shipyard, Mobile, Ala. Highland Scout entered service in Brazil in January and Highland Guide entered service in Borneo in February. Vessel conceptual design was a collaborative effort between Gulf Offshore and Bender, with Guido Perla and Associates, Seattle, assisting Bender with final design. The 4,640 bhp vessels have a total capacity of 2,800 tons of fuel oil, fresh water, deck cargo, bulk materials and liquid mud. Steaming speed averaged 12 knots; normal speed is projected to be 10.5-11 knots. The boats are powered by twin Cat 3606 marine diesels, each rated 2,320 bhp at 900 rpm. The Cat 3600s drive Berg 97-in. diameter controllable pitch (CP) propellers through Reintjes 4:1 gears. Three additional displacement families of Cat engines are in use. A Cat 3512 rated 1,254 bhp at 1,200 rpm powers the Berg CP bowthruster. A 570 bhp, 2,100 rpm Cat 3408C drives the Berg CP sternthruster. All main propulsion and thruster control systems are computer-linked to the global positioning system for improved station-keeping ability. Three Cat 3406C gen sets, each rated 250 ekW at 1,800 rpm, provide ship electrical service with plenty of power to run high-capacity pumps for fuel, water and liquid mud.