China Shipyard Delivers First Self-designed Offshore Support Vessel

SINOPACIFIC delivers first self-designed eco-friendly OSV from its subsidiary Zhejiang Shipbuilding yard

Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group delivered its first self-designed, and the world’s most advanced small AHTS offshore support vessel (OSV) a SPA 80 Diesel Electric DPII 80 mt AHTS from its subsidiary shipyard Zhejiang Shipbuilding Co.

The SPA 80 was designed by SDA, a design company of SINOPACIFIC. It is a small, high-tech AHTS. Compared with the same type of AHTS designed by foreign design companies, the SPA 80 has not only absorbed their advantages, but also added many design and technical features including: safety, reliability, maneuverability, operational efficiency, and environmental friendliness.

The SPA 80 retains the core strengths of the original foreign design: it uses an all-electric propulsion system and is equipped with three diesel generator sets, thrusters are installed on its bow and stern, and it has the power positioning capability of DPII (Dynamic Positioning Class II). There is also unmanned engine room control.

In addition, the SPA 80 also adds a number of innovative designs and technologies. Through a unique hull line design, the SPA 80 can reduce frictunal resistance while maintaining  seakeeping ability and thus  reduce fuel consumption by more than 20% at the same economic speed. Meanwhile, by its design, the SPA 80 increases its volume fraction by 7%, which means it can increase its cargo capacity by 7% with the same vessel volume. In addition, it has an optimized hull structure, decreasing its weight by 9% while correspondingly increasing its deadweight. The reduction in fuel consumption and the increase in the volume and deadweight greatly enhance the operational efficiency of the vessel.

A double-hulled fuel tank on this small AHTS reduces the risk of environmental pollution from any accident. In addition, the SPA 80 is able to deal with   oil slicks by self-recovery, and has obtained the Oil Recovery Ship certificate. Most importantly, the SPA 80 has also obtained the classification society BV 'Clean Ship' certificate for meeting stringent environmental requirements.