Page 9: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1991)

180-Foot Supply Boat Converted

To Standby/Rescue Vessel

By Steiner Shipyard

The Veesea Typhoon has been rebuilt to ABS standards, Maltese Cross A-l hull, equipment and AMS machinery, ABS International Loadline and USCG OSV certification.

Boats & Barges

Steiner Shipyard, Bayou

LaBatre, Ala., has completed the conversion of a 180-foot oil field sup- ply boat into a standby/rescue ves- sel for use in the U.K. sector of the

North Sea. The Veesea Typhoon is one of four standby/rescue vessels that will be operated by a joint ven- ture between Vector Offshore, an

English firm, and Seacor Marine,

Inc. of Morgan City, La.

Converting the Veesea Typhoon to its new role involved returning the ship's mechanical systems to good working order, the addition of a two-level 44-foot by 30-foot rescue module located aft of the main su- perstructure, updating crew quar- ters and the galley to accommodate 20 people, sandblasting and repaint- ing the hull, and updating electronic navigation and communications equipment in the pilothouse.

To allow the vessel to combat the higher sea states often encountered during the winter months and to provide a more comfortable envi- ronment for the survivors, the bow and the bulwarks were raised and strengthened on the vessel. The pilothouse was also lifted for better visibility and enhanced safety.

Conversion of the Veesea Ty- phoon was extensive, according to

Russell Steiner, president of

Steiner Shipyard. Mechanical sys- tems work included rebuilding both of its Caterpillar D-399 engines to bring them in compliance with ABS specifications. The two Caterpillar 3406 gensets were also rebuilt. A bow thruster, powered by a Cater- pillar 3406 diesel only needed re- pair to its air starting system.

The major addition to the vessel was the construction of the rescue module consisting of forward and aft treatment areas, a hospital ward with bunks for 18 persons, a survi- vor reception area fitted with seat- ing for 13 persons, a mortuary, sur- vivor berths for 36 persons in a two- tier arrangement and survivor seat- ing for 96 persons, also located on

Navy Awards Initial

Design Contracts

For Sealift Ships

The award of contracts to de- velop concept designs for strategic sealift medium-speed, roll-on/roll- off ships of two sizes, 950 feet and 700 feet, was recently announced by the U.S. Navy.

Nine shipyards received con- tracts, each of which carries a value of about $250,000.

The yards (in alphabetical order) are as follows: Alabama Shipyard,

Mobile, Ala.; Avondale Industries,

New Orleans, La.; Bath Iron Works,

Bath, Maine; Halter Marine,

Gulfport, Miss.; Ingalls Shipbuild- ing, Pascagoula, Miss.; Los Angeles

Shipyard Corporation, Los Ange- les, Calif.; National Steel & Ship- both levels. Port and starboard res- cue zones lead directly into the two level rescue module.

Aft of the main superstructure and the rescue module is the main cargo deck for transportation of off- shore cargo and equipment. This area also holds two 15-man rescue craft that will be added to the boat when she reaches her port in Leith,

Scotland.

Conversion of the Veesea Ty- phoon is the fourth vessel Steiner has built recently for Seacor Ma- rine. Steiner just delivered the third of three new 225-foot supply boats to Seacor.

For free literature detailing the facilities and capabilities of Steiner

Shipyard,

Circle 55 on Reader Service Card building, San Diego, Calif.; New- port News Shipbuilding, Newport

News, Va.; Tampa Shipyards,

Tampa, Fla.

The request for preliminary de- signs came in anticipation of a Pen- tagon mobility requirements study due this month, a Navy official said.

That study will define more clearly the mix of new and used vessels and aircraft needed for military sealift operations.

The design phase, which should be completed by the end of the year, will be followed by the Navy match- ing the designs to the requirements specified in the study, then seeking bids for engineering designs in the spring.

About 22 to 45 additional sealift vessels will be needed, according to estimates.

November, 1991 11

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