Singapore shipbuilder Strategic Marine has commissioned a series of three new offshore supply vessels (OSVs) with a maximum speed of over 53 knots, thought to be the fastest of their kind.
Each vessel is powered by four 16-cylinder mtu Series 2000M72 engines from Rolls-Royce. The vessels will be used by an African oil company for personnel transfer to offshore platforms and FPSO vessels.
To enable fast and safe transfer to offshore platforms, the 35m long vessels have been designed as so-called ‘Surface Effect Ships’ (SES). SES uses air-cushion technology within a catamaran hull form, and is believed to be the first of its kind in the offshore oil and gas industry.
The boats have an optimised power-to-weight ratio and use powerful fans to generate an air cushion between the hulls that minimises hull drag and resistance. Combined with the mtu propulsion package (each delivering 5,760 kW of power), the vessels can travel at much higher speeds than conventional monohulls and catamarans, with consumption remaining at the same per hour of operations. The high speed of well over 50 knots ensures shorter transit times, while the low hull resistance saves fuel and reduces emissions.
Chan Eng Yew, CEO Strategic Marine, said: “Our goal in building these crew transport vessels was to minimise the water resistance at the hulls and maximise the cruising and top speed of the ship. The 53-knot top speed during the sea trials demonstrates that we were successful in building and commercialising this technology for offshore crew transfer applications. mtu engines have made a significant contribution thanks to their unique power-to-weight ratio.”
Denise Kurtulus, SVP Global Marine, Rolls-Royce Power Systems, added: “We are extremely proud that our mtu propulsion package has helped to develop this new and extraordinary type of vessel. The excellent power-to-weight ratio and long maintenance intervals of over 12,000h were crucial factors in the selection of our engines. These product benefits will help us achieve our strategic goal of increasing our share of the commercial marine market.”
Image: Four Strategic Marine offshore SES vessels are powered by mtu engines (source: Rolls-Royce Power Systems)
