• Aries Marine announces new build program using STXM design
• STXM Supports Chemical/Product Tanker design through construction
• Modular LNG Tanks Delivered
• Launch of First Royal New Zealand Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel
• STXM Supports New Generation of OSVs
• 'Harvey Spirit' Launched
  

Aries Marine Corp. inked a letter of intent with Eastern Shipbuilding Group for the construction of two "TIGERSHARK" class PSVs.  The vessels will be built on the STXM PSV 23 DE design.

USA/GULF OF MEXICO:  Lafayette, La.-based Aries Marine Corp. inked a letter of intent with Eastern Shipbuilding Group for the construction of two "TIGERSHARK" class platform supply vessels (PSVs).  The vessels will be built on the STXM PSV 23 DE design, which is an AC diesel electric, twin Z-drive, DP-2 offshore service vessel that meets or exceeds new International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations for carriage of fuel oil, drilling fluids or other pollutants by incorporating a double-skin IMO-compliant hull.

The vessels, the first of which will be named Dwight S. Ramsay after Aries Marine's founder, owner and chief financial officer, will be 284 feet by 62 feet by 22 feet (87 m by 19 m by 7 m). While classed for international operations, the vessels are expected to join Aries' Gulf of Mexico fleet.

The new PSVs will be capable of transporting 15,165 barrels of liquid mud, accommodating 36 people and transporting cargo on 10,260 square feet (953 sq m) of deck space.  The vessels' large generator package will allow Aries' customers to power various activities, such as remotely operated vehicles, accommodation modules and pipeline treatment equipment.

Aries Marine President Court Ramsay said, "We are proud of our record and the service that we have provided to our customers day-in and day-out for the last 26 years.  We believe we can carry out this record and reputation over to a larger class of vessel, and we look forward to meting the demands of a growing deep water market."

The TIGER shark design is part of the Shark Series, three environmentally-friendly PSVs designs by STXM and Poseidon Maritime (UK) Ltd. that Eastern Shipbuilding has modified to meet the specific performance, capacity and comfort features required by Gulf of Mexico vessel owners. In addition to the TIGER class PSV, the Shark Series also includes two 260-foot (79 m) designs dubbed the MAKO shark class and the THRESHER shark class.

A key feature of the PSV 23 DE design is the location of the power generating plant on the main deck in separate port and starboard engine rooms, freeing up cargo volume below deck by eliminating the traditional below-deck engine room.  With this arrangement, the vessel will have the space to hold the same volume of liquid cargo as vessels of a similar size constructed prior to the implementation of the IMO regulations.  Another benefit to the extra below-deck volume is the provision of sufficient dedicated ballast capacity to ensure all propellers remain immersed after cargo is unloaded, improving DP station keeping during rougher weather.

The main electrical rooms are located immediately forward of the port and starboard engine rooms.  Placing the machinery spaces on the main deck provides a number of benefits, including simplified ancillary systems, notably in terms of engine room ventilation and exhaust systems.  The design eliminates stacks and exhaust piping external to the deck house, improving visibility from the pilot house.  Another design feature is the elimination of all hydraulic systems.

STXM has recently been awarded a contract by Shipbuilding Construction Strategies (SCS) on behalf of American Heavy Lift (AHL) to complete the Functional, Detail and Production engineering necessary for construction of three shallow-draft, U.S. Flag, Jones Act qualified, OPA90, 49,000 DWT Product Carriers. The project results from three years of cooperation with SCS and AHL in the development of a modular construction approach for a state of the art twin screw, diesel electric, double-hull, IMO Type II and III product/chemical tanker. The vessels will be constructed for AHL and time chartered to Shell Trading (U.S.) Company (STUSCO), with delivery of the first vessel scheduled in 2009

The choice of modular construction resulted from a determination that the target price for construction of the vessels could not be achieved using a single shipbuilding location. The decision was made to divide the vessel into distinct modules for production that could be sub-contracted to facilities experienced with that particular aspect of marine fabrication and outfit. The final module breakdown includes: main hull including bow structure, aft end structure, machinery power module, deckhouse, and main deck\cargo pipe rack. The philosophy behind each module boundary was to maximize pre-outfitting and commissioning of the systems and machinery prior to final assembly and to minimize the interface connections required at the interface shipyard facility. The final design is a vessel with an overall length of 188 meters, a beam of 32 meters and a design draft of 11 meters with a total cargo capacity of approximately 330,000 barrels in 12 tanks. The twin-screw diesel electric machinery plant is configured with three medium speed diesel generator sets of 5765kW capacity each, any two of which will provide enough power to operate the vessel under normal conditions driving the 2 x 4650kW propulsion motors which give the vessel a range of 12,000 nautical miles at a service speed of 14.0 knots.

The vessels will be the first Jones Act tankers to be constructed under the JTP Common Structural Rules for Double Hull Oil Tankers. The use of these rules resulted in the re-evaluation of the initial ABS Safehull Part B Dynamic Load Analysis (DLA) results against the new harmonized rules that came into effect in 2006. The design utilizes primarily mild steel with high tensile steel used in higher stress locations such as the main deck, sheer strake and upper strakes of longitudinal bulkheads. The aft deckhouse is configured for a complement of 30 crew that includes 22 single cabins for ship personnel and an additional 2 x 4 person cabins for the riding crew. Other facilities include multiple recreation and mess spaces together with a gymnasium. An extensive model test program has already been completed to fine tune the resistance, sea keeping, and directional stability performance of the hull form.

STXM’s role in the project will be to complete the functional design of the vessel; support other design groups with detail and production engineering; and to rovide ongoing engineering support to the Owner’s production management group during construction of the vessels at Atlantic Marine, R&R Construction and other facilities on the Gulf Coast.

Two, 125,000 m3 LNG storage tanks designed by STX Canada Marine have recently been completed by Hyundai Heavy Industries.  The 155m-long tanks are being shipped from Korea to Spain, where they will be installed in the Adriatic LNG Terminal.

The LNG tanks are based on proprietary Exxon Mobil technology licensed to Whessoe Oil & Gas Ltd of the UK.  The free-standing prismatic tanks are made from a special low-temperature steel.  STXM was responsible for initial and detail design of the steel structure, including extensive strength and fatigue analysis using FEA.

Owned by Exxon Mobil, Qatar Gas, and Edison Group, the Adriatic LNG terminal will be the world’s first offshore LNG regas terminal when it is commissioned offshore Italy in 2008.  STXM has been a participant in the Adriatic LNG project since 2003, as a subcontractor to Whessoe Oil and Gas Ltd.

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Launch of First RNZ Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel   (September 2007)

Steel cutting commenced in February 2005 and the ships are scheduled for delivery in 2007. The OPVs are part of the seven-ship ‘Project Protector’, which also includes the delivery of one 130-meter Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) and four Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV).
OPVs offer an alternative to employing higher priced frigates and destroyers to perform duties such as illegal immigration surveillance, drug interdiction, search and rescue, fisheries and environment enforcement and countering terrorism.

STXM has worked closely with Tenix and the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (NZMoD) to develop a design that fully meets the requirements of the Contract. The ship is designed to have excellent seakeeping qualities, 6,000 nautical mile endurance, and an ice-strengthened hull, which enables the vessel to patrol the Ross Sea near Antarctica in the summer months.
The NZMoD OPV project is an excellent example of how STXM can provide the full range of design services for an OPV project. STXM has been involved from the concept, proposal design, classification package and has now completed a detailed 3D production model of the ship structure and mechanical systems using ShipConstructor software.

For a more detailed review of the project refer to the October 2005 issue of Horizons Magazine

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STXM Supports New Generation of OSVs  (August 2007)

STXM is supporting the Aker Yards shipbuilding group by providing assistance in developing the designs of a new generation of offshore support vessels for the North Sea, West African and Brazilian sectors. These new projects include a range of sophisticated anchor handling tow supply vessels, platform supply, ROV vessel and Offshore Construction vessel. The vessels are typically diesel electric, Dynamic Positioning (DP) capable and built to the latest DNV Comfort and Clean Design standards.

Crew comfort is acknowledged as an increasing requisite in attracting and maintaining a satisfied crew and is of prime importance in these designs. Stabilizing systems and a high level of outfitting are offered, with significantly reduced noise and vibration levels from current standards being achieved by a combination of vessel layout, material selection and structural design. The Clean Design designation is an increasingly requested feature when offering these vessels for charter and ensures an environmentally friendly vessel with equipment meeting the latest emissions standards and the vessel tankage arranged such that no oil tanks contact the shell.

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"Harvey Spirit" Launched  (July 2006)

“Harvey Spirit,” the second of four offshore supply vessels under construction for Harvey Gulf International at the Eastern Shipbuilding Group facilities in Panama City, Florida will enter service next month after completing DP trials.

The “Harvey Spirit” is a platform Supply Vessel, the first in the company’s 280ft DP2 class of vessel and is arranged to carry bulk products to offshore installations. These vessels have a high deadweight capacity normally associated with vessels of greater length and are equipped to carry cargo fuel, methanol, liquid mud, dry bulk cement, in addition to miscellaneous deck cargo on the open deck which is rated for 5T/m2. The vessels are destined to enter service in the Gulf of Mexico initially; however, both vessels have been classed by ABS under the ACP program for International service.

“Harvey Discovery” is a 265ft Class, multi-purpose ROV/supply vessel with twin azimuthing drives aft and two tunnel thrusters forward to achieve a DP2 notation. The vessel is equipped with a 65 ton crane, stern roller, A frame, umbilical winch, and moon pool for the deployment of underwater vehicles when in ROV mode. The 20 person, modular accommodation required for scientists, engineers and supernumeraries during ROV operations can be removed to provide increased deck cargo area and deadweight capacity when operating as a platform supply vessel.

These vessels are the first of an ambitious fleet expansion program by Harvey Gulf with a further two supply vessels and an anchor handling towing supply vessel currently on order. STX Canada Marine provided ESG with design engineering and secured ABS approval for the vessels, introduced 3D modeling of the piping and mechanical systems on the “Harvey Spirit”, and will provide engineering support for the follow on vessels. We will continue to provide engineering support to ESG in their completion of the follow on vessels and look forward to an ongoing relationship with this most industrious group.