Cummins-Powered 110-Foot 'Comet7 Delivered To Shippen Marine

Shippen Marine Inc. of Houston, Texas, has recently taken delivery of a new 110-foot crew/ supply boat from Gulf Craft Inc.

in Patterson, La. The Comet, an aluminum-hulled quad-screw capable of 23 knots, is the first crewboat to be powered by four Cummins KTA-1150-M diesel engines.

Gulf Craft Inc. custom built the Comet to Shippen's specifications.

The term crew/supply is a recent term given to larger crewboats that have the deck space and capability to carry large cargo loads. The Comet can carry 30 long tons of deck cargo and 55 passengers in addition to its four-man crew. With a fuel capacity of 6,700 gallons and a fuel transfer pump, the Comet can service offshore fuel needs.

In addition to the 700 gallons of water for vessel use, the Comet carries 6,700 gallons of cargo water that can be pumped to oil platforms through a 15-hp electric pump. The same pump supplies a cabin-mounted fire-fighting monitor. A deck-mounted 150- pound dry chemical fire extinguisher enables the Comet to transport helicopter fuel on deck.

Ed Shippen, president and owner of Shippen Marine Inc., went into business five years ago. The other boat in his two-vessel fleet is an 85-foot oilfield utility boat.

"Oil companies look first for dependability in the boats they hire," explains Mr. Shippen. "Cargo capacity, versatility, and fuel efficiency are also important, and we've tried to incorporate all of these qualities in the Comet." The Comet is under contract to Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc. and working out of Rockport, Texas. While Mr. Shippen expects Mobil will appreciate the fuel efficiency of the fourstroke cycle Cummins engines, he says his main reasons for choos- ing these engines was to reduce maintenance cost. Mr. Shippen points out that the KTA-1150-M engine does not use a blower and has a single turbocharger. It has half the cylinders to maintain as a 12-cylinder engine of equal horsepower and gives more space in the engine room. Turbocharged and aftercooled, the 6-cylinder inline KTA-1150-M engine is rated at 520 bhp. It has the most economical fuel consumption in its horsepower class a c c o r d i n g to m a n u f a c t u r e r s ' published fuel consumption curves. Cummins Sales and Service, Houston, will provide parts and maintenance for the Comet's engines.

Coupled to each of the KTA- 1150s is a Twin Disc MG 514C marine gear with a 2:1 reduction ratio. Three-bladed 34 by 32-inch Federal propellers are mounted on 3-inch stainless-steel shafts.

Two 40-kw generator sets powered by GM 3-71 diesel engines provide onboard electricity.

Navigation equipment includes Micrologic 320L Loran C, Decca 150 autopilot, Motorola SSB and VHF radios; Decca 916 and Furuno 711 radars; and Datamarine depth indicator. Mr. Shippen says having two radar units enables him to set one on close range and one on long range, and adds that it is always good to have a backup radar in the frequently foggy Gulf waters.

Other stories from May 15, 1981 issue

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.