Page 14: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 15, 1981)

Drawing shows Gotaverken Arendal's semisubmersible and multiservice rig design. $140-Million Contract For Two Offshore Rigs

Awarded To Gotaverken Arendal Shipyard

An agreement has been signed between Consafe Offshore AB and Gotaverken Arendal AB, both of Sweden, for the construction of two semisubmersible accom- modation and multiservice rigs, design GVA 2000. The total val- ue of the order is approximately $140 million. Delivery is sched- uled for early fall 1982 and spring 1983.

The GVA 2000 platform repre- sents a completely new design.

It is a four-column semisubmers- ible of twin hull configuration de- veloped by Gotaverken Arendal, with accommodations for 600 off- shore workers.

Construction work offshore raises highly specialized demands of flexibility, efficiency, and safe- ty. This new design has been developed with special consider- ation given to the demands and requirements raised by the oil companies.

GVA 2000 is said to be equally suitable as a drilling rig. Special consideration has also been taken in order to be able to use the platform for advanced diving op- erations under rough sea condi- tions.

The platform of the GVA 2000 has an overall length of 252.6 feet, width of 246 feet, height to main deck of 89.2 feet, and height to lower deck of 72.8 feet. Oper- ating draft is 51.2 feet, survival draft 39.4 feet, and transit draft 22.6 feet.

Management Promotions

At Offshore Company—

R.J. Browning Named VP

Ronald L. Kuehn Jr., chairman of the board and chief executive officer of The Offshore Company,

Houston, a major international drilling contractor, has announced that several promotions had been made within the management of the company. Robert J. Browning has been elected a vice president and given responsibility for man- aging the company's Contracts and Sales Department. He was previously an area manager with

Bludworth Bond Yard Gets $2-Million Contract For

Seismic Vessel Conversion

Bludworth Bond Shipyard, Inc. of Houston has been awarded a $2-million contract to convert a 180-foot by 40-foot supply vessel into a seismic survey vessel for

Western Geophysical Company of

America. This is the fourth ma- jor conversion for Western Geo- physical. Previous conversions are working in Alaska and on the U.S.

Gulf Coast.

Bludworth Bond has expanded its repair facilities from one float- ing drydock in 1977 to three at present. The fourth drydock, a 2,800-ton unit, will be operational in the spring of 1982.

Benson, Basse And David

Join Tampa Barge In

Management & Production

Inslee M. Rigdon, vice president of Tampa Barge and Ship Repair

Services of Tampa, Fla., has an- nounced the appointments of Ar- thur Benson as executive assist- ant to the president, Bill Basse as supervisor of steel erection planning and layout, and Bill

Arthur Benson

David as field superintendent in charge of steel erection.

Mr. Benson served for a num- ber of years as chief engineer of oceangoing vessels, and in various capacities ashore as port engi- neer and in shipyard manage- ment positions. For three years during the Vietnamese struggle, he served as director of ship re- pair and maintenance for the

Gulf Coast District of the U.S.

Maritime Administration.

Mr. Basse is widely known throughout the industry as a steel man. Mr. David is well-known for his many years in the ship repair industry as a steel erector. Tampa

Barge is in the process of expand- ing its ship repair facility; the acquisition of Messrs. Benson,

Basse, and David is a major step in that direction. responsibility for operations in

Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

Jon C. Cole, formerly manager of the Corporate Planning De- partment, had transferred to the

Contracts and Sales Department.

And James C. Yardley, a member of the corporate planning group, has been selected to replace Mr.

Cole as manager of the Corporate

Planning Department.

The Offshore Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of South- ern Natural Resources, Inc., which owns various other natural re- sources and energy-related busi- nesses.

Attending recent ASNE Delaware Valley Chapter meeting were (L to R): L. Cohen, vice chairman, CDI Marine Co., Voorhees, N.J.; Richard Watson, presenter, J.J.

Henry Co., Inc., Moorestown, N.J.; E.P. Weinert, chairman, Naval Ship Systems

Engineering Station, Philadelphia; H. Gladfelter, meeting coordinator, J.J. Henry

Co., Inc., Moorestown; and J.W. Deal, secretary-treasurer, Sanders & Thomas Inc.,

Pottstown, Pa.

Delaware Valley ASNE Chapter

Discusses Government Contracting

Approximately 30 members and guests attended a recent meeting of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the American Society of Naval

Engineers at the Officer's Club,

Philadelphia Naval Base.

Richard Watson of the J.J.

Henry Co., Inc. made an excellent presentation of "The Pros and

Cons of Government Contracting in the Naval Architecture and

Marine Engineering Business."

The salient points discussed were contracting methods and proced- ures and their impact on prospec- tive and established contractors.

Mr. Watson's presentation was followed by a lively question and answer session.

Delaware Valley Chapter chair- man Eugene P. Weinert thanked

Mr. Watson for a most interest- ing presentation, and presented him with a Certificate of Appre- ciation. 16 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News