Offshore Ship Designers reports that it has sealed ten new design contracts for large diesel-electric platform supply vessels for two major offshore operators building at three shipyards in Brazil, Japan and Spain.

Swire Pacific Offshore Operations has ordered four IMT-997 PSVs to be built by Universal Shipbuilding Corporation in Japan and four sister vessels to be built at the EISA shipyard in Brazil. The 97m length oa 5,000dwt vessels will be classed with DP2 capability and have diesel-electric propulsion systems with azimuth propulsion units. The vessels will be delivered progressively from early 2014.

Craig Group’s Northstar Shipping has ordered two IMT-982 PSVs to be built at Balenciaga in Spain. The 83m long vessels have diesel-electric propulsion systems offering greater fuel economy and efficiency. The vessels have an initial operating deadweight of 2,550dwt, a useable deck area of 912m2 and are powered by four MAK 9M20 1,450kW generator sets driving two Steerprop 1,900kWe Azimuth units. The vessels are specially designed to operate at less than 5,000 tonnes displacement to work with older North Sea Structures where vessel size and weight restrictions apply and will be also classed with DP2 capability.

Neil Patterson, managing director of OSD-IMT, the UK arm of the OSD group, says: “The key elements of our IMT range of offshore support vessels are fuel efficiency and design for purpose. These leading offshore operators want vessels designed efficiently for specific tasks, and with these new designs we can tailor the hull, cargo systems, power and propulsion systems to the required operating profile. With offshore operators developing oil fields in deeper water and in more exposed environmental conditions, the requirements are for more efficient high capacity support vessels often with special requirements. OSD can design exactly what is needed, through the IMT range of OSV’s and with our extensive experience of diesel-electric systems and regulations such SPS Code, IBC Code and Probabilistic Damage, our designs can built anywhere in the world at the most competitive price.”

Source: motorship.com