Tidewater Selects New Model GM-EMDs

Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc., New Orleans, La., has shipped the first four of 20 marine models of General Motors totally new EMD 16-265H diesel engines and generators to Yantai Raffles Shipyard PTE, LTD in China for installation in the MV John P. LABORDE. It is the first of five new 282-ft., diesel electric anchor handling/tug supply boats (AH/TS) under construction for Tidewater Marine, Inc., New Orleans, La. The four EMD generator sets in each vessel will produce a total of 24,000 hp (or 17,200 kilowatts of electrical power) required for the boats' diesel-electric propulsion, dynamic positioning, winching, towing and other systems as well as hotel loads. The generator sets utilize generators manufactured by the Baylor Division of National Oilwell, LP of Houston, Texas. Included in the design requirements of the new vessels are a bollard pull of over 200 metric tons and the ability to handle anchors for rigs working in depths of more than 5,000 ft. "These engines are designed and built for that kind of rigorous use, while meeting all of the new IMO requirements as well as being adaptable to meet anticipated future standards," said Ralston Cole, Stewart & Stevenson, vice-president, Power and Marine. Cole said some of the advanced features of the new 16-cylinder, four-stroke engines include the following: Twin gas-driven turbochargers; Cast ductile iron crankcases; One centrally mounted camshaft; Electronic fuel injection; Thermo-flex piston crowns, and Ductile iron cross-flow cylinder heads.