A.K. Suda Designed Crew/Supply Boat Carries More for Less

A. K. Suda. Inc. was approached by LaForce Shipyard of Bayou LaBatre, Ala. to design a crew/supply boat that would be faster, carry more deck load and more passengers and still be delivered at an economical price. The result is the 160 x 32-ft. (48.7 x 9.7-m) high-speed crew/supply boat that was recently delivered by LaForce at their Alabama yard.

The 160-ft. vessel, powered by four CAT 3512 DITA engines at 1,575 hp each, reached speeds of 29 knots with light load and 28 knots with 100 LT of liquid cargo in recent sea trials. At 100 x 28 ft., the cargo deck offers 40 percent more deck space than other vessels this size and can carry 290 ST of cargo. Cargo weight is 540 lbs./sq. ft. Passenger seating totals 81 passengers and there is still comfortable berthing for 10 crewmen.

The vessel design provides what we believe is unprecedented flexibility in loading. The entire dwt of 290 ST can be carried on the deck. The vessel design is based on the philosophy of its designer, A. K. Suda. Inc., in Metairie. La. — to build the lightest and strongest vessels.

In maintaining the USCG Subchapter T designation.

Suda designed the vessel without the use of deep tonnage frames or tonnage openings throughout the vessel, thus saving in the use of aluminum. Part of the saved aluminum weight was used to beef up areas of high stress. The savings in weight and the improvement in hull form have resulted in the high speed and heavy deck load.

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Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 24, Jun 2003

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