Gulf Craft, Franklin, La., delivered the 208'x32'x15' multi-purpose, fast offshore support vessel (FSV) Alya McCall to Seacor Marine, Houma, La., in October 2015. Designed by Lafayette, La.-based Incat Crowther, the new FSV is the first vessel in the Seacor Express Plus class.
The aluminum vessel can haul up to 20,000 gals. of ship’s fuel oil; 60,000 gals. cargo fuel; 5,000 gals. fresh water; and 500 gals. lube oil. The 136'6"x26'6" rear cargo deck that can handle up to 300 LT of freight. There is seating inside for 100 personnel and accommodations for 12 crewmembers.
Main propulsion comes from five Cummins QSK 60, Tier 3 diesel engines, each producing 2,680 hp at 1,900 rpm, connected to HamiltonJet HT 810 waterjets through Twin Disc MGX-61500-SC marine gears. A cardan shafting system by Driveline Service of Portland (Ore.) connects the gearboxes to the waterjets. Alya McCall has a running speed of 38 knots.
Station-keeping capability is provided through the combination of three Thrustmaster 30TT200 electric-mechanical tunnel thrusters working in conjunction with the azimuth-like waterjets, all of which are controlled by a Kongsberg DP-2 dynamic positioning system.
Ship’s service power is derived from three Cummins QSM11 gensets, each producing 290 kW.
Dual FFS firefighting pumps and remote controlled monitors provide FiFi-1 equivalent firefighting capacity for combatting off-ship fires. A Naiad Dynamics ride control system is also fitted to improve passenger and crew comfort while underway.
The vessel, which has a 15' draft, is certified by the USCG under the provisions of 46 CFR Subchapter T and by the American Bureau of Shipping as a High-Speed Craft with DP-2 and Fire-Fighting Capability notations.
Incat Crowther has also designed two new 117'7"x31'3" catamaran passenger ferries for Fullers Group Ltd. The new vessels will be sisterships to the Te Kotuku (delivered in 2014) and built at New Zealand’s Q-West in Wanganui.
The ferries will carry 401 passengers and include the addition of a sun deck.
The main deck features seats for 174, a large café, luggage racks and wide access doors. Also fitted will be two toilets (one of which is handicap-accessible) and racks for 14 bicycles.
The upper deck features 76 exterior seats and 81 interior seats. An additional bar and pair of toilets are also located on the upper deck.
The wheelhouse retains its successful asymmetric configuration, designed in consideration of the operational requirements. The frequently used starboard wing control station is enclosed for protection from the elements, whilst the port side is dedicated to crew access via stairs to the foredeck, which houses palletised cargo and a deck crane.
Passenger boarding is by large side gates on the main deck, or via the hydraulic hinging articulated ramps mounted on the transom port and starboard, which integrate with the existing shore based infrastructure and offer a fast turnaround time.
The new vessels will feature larger engines, but the manufacturer has not yet been announced.
