Time Charter of DP-1 Research Vessel Fixed

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington reported that Stabbert Maritime of Seattle has time chartered the U.S. flag, DP-1, research vessel Ocean Pioneer (ex: Seabulk Montana, Montana, Seabulk Montana, Indian Seal) to FMC Technology of Davis, California.

The 205' x 40' x 17' depth vessel was built in 1974 by Burton Shipyard in Port Arthur, Texas for Seal Fleet of Galveston, Texas and acquired by Hvide Marine, Inc. in 1996, along with seven other offshore supply boats. Hvide reorganized in 2001 and was renamed Seabulk International. Seabulk operated the vessel until 2006 when bought by Stabbert Maritime.

The vessel was extensively rebuilt in 2009 and is classed ABS + A1, Towing Service +AMS, Unrestricted Service and U.S. Coast Guard inspected under Subchapter I. Capacities include a deck cargo of 1,022LT on 5,600ft2 clear deck, 82,455g fuel, 100,000g potable water and 121,381g drill water. Ocean Pioneer" is fitted with a 35 ton North Pacific hydraulic crane, 10 ton A-frame crane and a 425HP bow thruster. Main propulsion is provided by twin Alco 12-251F diesels totaling 4,000BHP at 900RPM turning 115" dia. CP propellers. The vessel has a range of about 4,800nm and a maximum speed of about 14kn. She is U.S. Coast Guard Certified to carry 44 persons.

Charterer will utilize the Ocean Pioneer to test a new ROV design offshore the U.S. West coast.

Marcon International, Inc. has concluded numerous others sales and charters with the owner over the years, but this is the first transaction with the Charterer. Marcon acted as sole broker in the transaction.

To date this year, Marcon has brokered eight sales and charters including a sales of a 11,200dwt ocean deck barge and a 116' utility / construction support vessel; a long-term lease/purchase of a 2011 built, 5,150BHP foreign flag the completion of the second 5,000nm plus back-to-back tow from the U.S. West Coast to the Hudson River in New York to support the Tappan Zee Bridge Project in addition to others. Four 65 - 82 metric ton bollard pull tugs continue to be fixed on long-term charters. Marcon expects to report the sale of another ocean deck barge shortly.

marcon.com