New Dive Support Vessel Fit for Many Roles

Incat Crowther’s first-of-type Catamaran Dive Support Vessel, Bhagwan Dryden, was launched and delivered earlier this year. According to the designer, operational feedback has been positive for the vessel, which has already received praise for initial operations, including mooring inspection carried out by ROV and operations under four point mooring and DP in shallow, rough seas.

 

Developed in conjunction with Bhagwan Marine, and built by Keppel, Bhagwan Dryden has been designed from the keel up to perform six key roles; Dive Support, Geophysical Survey, Geotechnical Survey, Cargo Transport, Hyperbaric Rescue and Safety Standby. The vessel can work in shallow waters, offering operational efficiencies at these depths and is fitted with an ROV, two built in decompression chambers and two Pommec launch and recovery systems, with the diving systems boasting a depth rating of 50 meters.

 

With such a varied array of operational roles, unique solutions were required not only in the allocation of spaces, but also with the specification of a flexible, high-redundancy propulsion system.

 

The result is an advanced propulsion and powering package that integrates a pair of Schottel STP 550 azimuthing stern drives, azimuthing bow thrusters and generators. Bhagwan Dryden is fitted with four generator sets (two Cummins QSK38-Ms and two QSK19-Ms), overseen by an advanced power management system that makes optimal use of the four generators and a battery bank to ensure each power source is used in the most effective way. The battery bank stores enough power to propel the ship for short periods, whilst the generators can be powered up in stages to minimize fuel burn. The system offers both low-speed efficiency (7 knots requires just 25% power) and maneuverability and a laden speed of 11 knots.

 

The QSK-38-M generator sets are also directly coupled to fire pumps, which drive full immersion fire monitors whilst a separate pump powers a complete deluge system.

 

The Schottel drives combine with a pair of drop-down azimuthing bow thrusters and a Kongsberg control system to give the vessel DPS-2 maneuverability. The innovative system lends itself to shallow draft dive operations, as the forward azimuthing thrusters are able to maintain operation as tunnel thrusters when retracted. Further positioning capability is provided by a Sonardyne Ranger 2 USBL acoustic positioning system, which allows the vessel to maintain station relative to undersea reference points.

 

In addition, Bhagwan Dryden is fitted with a 100-metric-ton, four-point mooring system featuring four deck winches and diagonally-oriented fairleads on all four corners of the vessel.

 

The aft main deck’s 160m2 of cargo space, rated at 10t/m2, is supplemented by a multitude of purpose-fitted deck equipment, including launch and recovery systems, stern roller, shark jaw, tow pins, A-Frame, waterfall winches and container securing lugs.

 

Accommodation cabins for a complement of 44 are situated in the hull and the mid deck. The hull also houses laundry facilities and a gymnasium. The mid-deck features an aft-facing survey room, which is linked to the wheelhouse by wireways, allowing operational flexibility.

 

The wheelhouse features complete all-round visibility, including aft-facing DP control stations.

 

The main deck of the vessel houses service spaces including an ROV control room and three workshops; as well as crew spaces such as a change room, cinema, dining mess and lounges and a commercial standard galley adjacent to dry and cold food storage spaces.