Seacraft Delivers 140-ft. Aluminum Crewboat

Seacraft Shipyard Corporation of Amelia, La., delivered M/V Contender, a 140-ft. aluminum oilfield crewboat. M/V Contender represents the new generation of aluminum oilfield crewboat, designed and built to transport and support the oilfield industry in the Gulf of Mexico. Designed in house, the vessel is certified for Gulf of Mexico Service by the United States Coast Guard and the American Bureau Shipping via loadline standards. The vessel is certified to carry 140 long tons of deck cargo located on the large aft deck measuring 70 x 18-ft. The vessel is equipped to transfer 20,938 gallons of rig water and 11,500 gallons of fuel. The vessel is also equipped to carry 7,776 gallons of ship’s fuel and 1,500 gallons of potable water.

The pilothouse is designed for an “all-around” view with the aft control station located directly behind the forward station to allow easy access to each station. The forward and aft stations are “user” friendly due to the layout of the dashes. The engine controls are ZF Clear Command electronic controls. The pilothouse is equipped with the latest in electronic and navigation equipment including: Furuno Standard Marine Radar; Furuno Combination Radar, GPS, and Chartplotter unit; Furuno Echo Sounder; VHF Marine Radios; Raymarine Loud Hailer broadcasting throughout the vessel; Navtex Receiver; AIS Display unit; AM/FM Stereo with a CD Player; and Surveillance Camera System with cameras in the engine room, generator room, and on the aft deck. There are also electronic spotlights at the forward station and at the aft station with the control panels located on the dash. There is a flood light located on the mast to illuminate the aft deck equipped with an on/off switch to eliminate night time viewing problems for the captain. The interior of the pilothouse is finished with black FRP panels complete with wooden moldings on the walls and ceiling to eliminate the “glare” for easier navigation of the vessel.

The machinery compartment is located aft of the galley and has the following equipment: auxiliary power comes from two, vibration isolated, GM-40 KW generators sets and the units are equipped with “hospital zone” exhaust silencers. Also located in the machinery compartment are the pumps for transferring water and fuel; bilge pump, fire pump, bilge manifold, rig water transfer manifold, fuel oil transfer manifold, dual air compressors, hydraulic steering unit and the washer/dryer unit.

Located aft of the machinery room is the engine room. In the engine room, the main propulsion engines are four Cummins KTA 19M developing 700 hp each at 2,100 rpm equipped with ZF transmissions with a 2.48:1 ratio that are coupled to four-in. Aquatech stainless steel shafts turning 38 x 38-in. Michigan NiBrAl propellers giving the vessel a cruising speed of 25 knots. Also located in the engine room is a filter crusher, oily water separator unit, fuel oil blender and a custom made “quick” engine oil change system complete with dirty oil storage and clean oil storage tanks.