Page 34: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 2004)

Podded Propulsion (Photo Credit: www.steerprop.com) gjjS Online photo gallery. Check-out the boats: www.don-sutherland.com (don't forget to type the dash, for that dashing digital boat photog.)

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Rigdon Marine: PSV Orleans Now Working

Rigdon Marine has the Orleans, first of ten 210 x 54.1 x 19 ft. (64 x 16.5 x 5.8-m) diesel-electric ABS

Classed DP-2 platform supply vessels's from Bender

Shipyards, now working in the Gulf of Mexico. A second vessel, the Bourbon, was to follow at the end of June with a third, the Royal, in August. These will be followed by seven more of these innovative ves- sels. The announcement of the ambitious build pro- gram. by Rigdon in 2002, received wide spread industry attention. Fernando Malabet of the boats' designer Guido Perla & Associates explains that the diesel electric propulsion system will provide superi- or performance in the dynamic positioning mode and maximize the design efficiency eliminating the need for long shafts and reduction gears.

The heart of the propulsion system for each of the new DP capable boats is a pair of Cummins Marine

QSK60-D(M) Marine Generators. The 16-cylinder tour-stroke engines each develop 2,548 bhp (1,901 kW) at 1.800 rpm which in turn produces 1,825 kWe at 60 Hz . The generators power electrical motors that will turn a pair of Steerprop SP-18T 360-degree azimuthing drives with open 2300 m/m propellers.

The responsiveness of the diesel electric drives enables the propulsion system to more readily meet the demands of the vessels' level 2 dynamic position- ing system. Additional electrical power is provided by a Cummins KTA-38-D (M) powered 900 kW genera- tor set. Cargo provisions include 1200 metric tonnes of deck cargo carried on the 41.8 X 13.7-metre open aft deck. The deck is strengthened for up five tonnes per cubic metre. The vessels' tankage includes 765 cubic metres for fuel. 819.7 cubic metres for drilling mud and 202 cubic metres for bulk mud. Cargo water and ship's water will be 670.8 and 74.3 cubic metres respectively. Lube oil is stored in fore and aft tanks of 7.2 and 9.2 cubic metres.

The Orleans, with accommodation for 22 people has an operational speed of 13 knots loaded at a 4.9 metre loadline. Delivery of the balance of these boats will continue through 2005.

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Orleans Main Particulars

Owner Rigdon Marine

Classification ABS

Name Orleans

Type DP-2 Platform Supply Vessels's

Builder Bender Shipyards

Total Sister Vessels 10

Designer Guido Perla & Associates

Propulsion Diesel Electric

Diesel engines Cummins QSK60-D(M) Marine Generators

Azimuthing Drives Steerprop

Length, o.a 210 ft. (64 m)

Lpp 202 ft. (61.6 m)

Beam 54.1 ft. (16.5 m)

Draft, design 16 ft. (4.9 m)

Draft, light 7.9 ft. (2.4 m)

Deadweight 2,300 tons

Cargo deck 569 sq. m.

Bulk mud 202 cu. m.

Liquid mud 812 cu. m.

Rig fresh water 897 cu. m.

Propulsion power 2 x 1,566 kW

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

In New York: +718-447-3908 : [email protected]

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Don Sutherland

Photographer of boats and maritime activities.

Anywhere.