Page 34: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1997)

OFFSHORE BUSINESS — DRILLING REPORT tow-out from drydock in November 1994.

Submergence tests on the GBS began two weeks before the sched- uled mating operation. Water was gradually let into the GBS and valves were shut off at several depth intervals, to inspect for leaks and to verify that all systems were performing properly. During these tests, the GBS descended from its mooring draft, which has a freeboard of 108 ft. (36 m), to a mating draft with a freeboard of 18 ft. (6 m).

The GBS was kept upright by adding and removing water through a network of ballasting pipes and compartments, and by the sheer weight of its base slab.

Six lengths of mooring chain were anchored to the shore to hold it in place. After tests, the GBS ballast- ed to a waiting draft of 285 ft. (95 m).

Meanwhile, two massive barges — measuring 96 x 450 ft. (32 x 150 m) — which were used to ferry the topsides to the GBS mating site, underwent submergence tests to check their ballast control sys- tems.

At Atlantic, We Go The Extra Mile

For The Offshore Industry...

So You Don't Have To,

Atlantic Marine, Inc.

Ship Repair & Conversion

P. 0. Box 3202, Mobile, AL 36652 USA

Tel.: (334) 690-7100 Fax: (334) 690-7107

Alabama Shipyard, Inc.

New Construction & Conversion

P. 0. Box 3201, Mobile, AL 36652 USA

Tel.: (334) 690-7100 Fax: (334) 690-7016 subsidiaries of

Atlantic Marine Holding Company of Jacksonville, Florida in Mobile, Alabama

Atlantic Marine, Inc.

Alabama Shipyard, inc. in Jacksonville, Florida

Atlantic Marine, Inc.

Atlantic Dry Dock Corp.

FPSO Fitted With

Twin Schilling Mariner

Rudder System

A twin Schilling Mariner system from Hamwortt fitted to FPSO Pefrojarl„ vessel, ci

Norwegian the Astano now on^st&tion phase 'of the B the or at

Spain, is art of the first linhaven opera- 34 Circle 355 on Reader Service Card sector of the North ;win Schilling Mariner rud- >tem reportedly provides exceptional maneuverability for large vessels, and recent sea trials on FPSO Berge Hugin reportedly confirmed positive tank test results.

For more information from Hamworthy

Circle 88 on Reader Service Card

Hvide Places $11 Million

Order With Halter

Hvide Marine has signed con- tracts with Hklter Marine Group,

Inc. for the construction of a proto- type 205-ft. (62.5-mj, deepwater platform supply vessel (PSV) and a third Ship DockingvModule (SDM). (The original order fcr the first two

SDMs was reporteM, with/color illustration, in the MarelV 1997 edition of MR I EN). The approxi- mate value of th4 contracts, excluding peripherals! associated with the Ship Docking Modules, is $11 million.

The first platform supply vessel is scheduled for delivery by year- end. It will be assigned tfc Hvide's

Seabulk Offshore, Lip., subsidiary in Lafayette, La., for/offshore work in the Gulf of Mexica. It is she first newbuild supply f boat m the

Seabulk fleet and Jwill be SOLAS- ready for worldwide trading! "Given the sizp of our flee the growing sophistication market as it moves into the dl waters offshore, we need to de op our next generation of sup boats," said J. Erik Hvide, chair- man, president and CEO. "This vessel will Be capable of dynamic positioning.' and will be outfitted with independent high-lift rudders and other state-of-the-art features that our customers are demand- ing, particularly in the growing deepwater segment of the market."

The SDM is touted as a revolu- tionary, double-ended ship-docking vessel. Designed in conjunction with Elliott Bay Design Group,

Hvide has filed a patent applica-

Maritime Reporter/Engineering News