Page 40: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2011)

FEATURE VESSEL OF THE MONTH40Maritime Reporter & Engineering News Bourbon has built its reputation on owning and operating innovative vessels to complete some of the most demandingjobs offshore. In mid-June the company has added to its legacy with the delivery of the first of ten GPA 696 IMR (Inspec- tion, Maintenance & Repair) vessels, built at Zheijang Shipyard in China for Bourbon Offshore. The DP-3 and FiFi-1 certified GPA 696 IMR vessels are equipped with three 1,686 kW az-imuthing drives, two 843 kW tunnel bow thrusters, one 843 kW drop-down az- imuthing bow thruster delivered by Schottel and six 1,235 kW Cumminsgenerators, as well as one 1,235 kW aux-iliary generator and one 450 kW emer- gency generator. The configuration of the diesel-electric propulsion system, includ-ing two engine and two electrical rooms, creates full redundancy in accordance with DP-3 requirements. The diesel-elec- tric propulsion system also results in re-duced maintenance cost and improved station-keeping at offshore installations, and significantly increases crewmember safety. Because of its design and stan- dardization, the GPA 696 IMR series can compete with more expensive, similar- sized vessels, reducing operational cost to the customer by up to 20%.The deck equipment of the 100-m ves- sels includes one 150 MT @ 10 m radiusmain crane, which can lower packages to a depth of 3,000 m and one 40 MT @ 9m radius deck crane. Both cranes, withbuilt-in swell compensation systems, cover the entire 1,200 sq. m. deck surface to ensure handling and storage of pack-ages over the entire area. The SOLAS- certified IMR vessels also have significant below-deck cargo capacities, capable of carrying 380 cu. m. ofmethanol, 2,541 cu. m. ship?s ballast,1,080 cu. m. fuel oil and 749 cu. m. freshwater. The vessels are also equipped with a helideck designed for a Super PumaHelicopter EC225. Versatility is another benefit as the ves- sels have the capability to adapt to differ- ent operational needs and can serve as a stimulation vessel, rescue vessel, hotel vessel or provide light intervention on wells while offering modern conditions aboard with meeting rooms, offices, lounges and comfortable cabins. The vessel design allows for the following configurations: ROV Vessel: 2 ROVs can be used at the same time. Deck Cargo: Maximum deck Cargo is 2080 MT, with an equivalent 18512 m-MT deadweight vertical moment. Hotel Vessel: Accommodations for105 people on board under comfort-able working conditions. Mini-FPSO Vessel: Increased freightloading capacity with a storage ca-pacity of 24,000 barrels of crude oil.Oil Well Intervention Vessels: Sup-port of interventions on oil wells for measurement and cleaning.A remarkable feature of these vessels is the ability to operate both cranes and bothROVs simultaneously over the complete operating envelope of the vessel without any restrictions. These vessels are certi- fied to satisfy both the current IMO de- terministic and probabilistic damagestability requirements.With these ten GPA 696 IMR vessels, the number of GPA-designed 600, 200 and 100 series of offshore vessels, in- cluding PSVs, AHTS and FSVs, already serving the industry or currently underconstruction has increased to over 140, reinforcing GPA?s position as one of the world?s leading naval architects for the offshore industry. Seattle-based Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering firm Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA) delivered the concept design, regulatory package, and final design for these vessels. First of 10 in Series of GPA 696 IMR Bourbon Evolution Series Starts Delivery Built at Zheijang Shipyard in China  DP-3 & FiFi 1  Inspection, Maintenance & Repair MR Aug. 11 # 5 (34-41):MR Template 8/3/2011 10:50 AM Page 40