550 May 2009
Bourbon’s Big Order
The business end with the two azimuthing and one fixed drive. Haig-Brown photos courtesy of Cummins Marine.
Reading about the huge numbers of platform supply vessels and anchor handling tugs on order for Bourbon Offshore is impressive. Actually seeing the production process is awe-inspiring. On a recent visit to the Zhejiang Shipyard in Ningbo China I was overwhelmed by the scope of the project and I was only seeing a part of it.
The MacGregor-Plimsol waterfal winch.
At the end of 2008 the company’s Offshore Division had a fleet of 288 vessels with another 153 on order. On the first of May this year a good number of the ordered vessels were already adding earnings to Bourbon’s impressive bottom line. But still more were on the way.
The MacGregor-Plimsol waterfal winch.
In addition to other vessels, Bourbon has 54 of the Guido Perla & Associates designed GPA254 Liberty on order for delivery between 2009 and 2011 at the rate of one every three weeks. These anchor-handling tugs are fitted with MacGregor-Plimsol dual drum waterfall winches rated for 150 tons braking power as well as stern rollers, retractable tow pins and shark jaws for the safe stopping of wires and chains during anchor handling operations. The 59.78 by 15-meter vessels have a bollard pull of approximately 85 tons.
Sisters moored stern to bow.
Three Cummins QSK60 diesel engines rated for 1,825 kW at 1800 RPM power three electrical generators to provide power to the electric motors that turn the two stern mounted azimuthing and one fixed-drive propellers. The generators also provide power to the two 560 kW fixed pitch variable speed bow thrusters. Generator power can be brought on line to meet a wide range of demands as required.
A pair of GPA254 Liberty vessels.
To meet the rigorous delivery schedule, the Zhejiang Shipyard has marshaled a huge work force and employs extensive and detailed planning to manage the orderly assembly of modules for several vessels at various stages of completion. While hulls are taking shape from prefabricated sections on the marine railways, superstructures are forming in another part of the yard and several launched vessels are lined up at the fitting out dock. This efficient production process is the Genesis of the “Liberty” name that, together with a number, will identify each of the 54 AHTs. The original Liberty ships were built in a similar highly efficient production regime during World War II to produce 2,751 cargo ships to transport goods to war ravaged Europe. Built on an assembly line method with modules and pioneering welded rather than riveted hull plating they are a fitting precursor to the Bourbon GPA Liberty anchor handling tugs.
The Bourbon Liberty 206 ready for sea trials.
A half dozen of the Bourbon GPA254 Liberty Anchor Handling Tugs at the fitting out dock at the Shejiang Shipyard.
For detailed specifications:
www.bourbon-liberty.com
For more on the original Liberty ships:
http://militaryhistory.about.com
For additional information on the program at the Zhejiang Shipyard contact:
Denis Mercier
Site Manager
Bourbon Shejiang Site Office
C/O Shejiang Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.
64 Jiangnan Road
Ningbo, 315040 Zhejiang
P.R. China
Phone: 00 86 1357 7437 593
Mobile: 00 86 1356 6012 020
E-mail: denis.mercier@bourbon-online.com
Web: www.bourbon-online.com
Simon Leng
Cummins Co. Inc. USA Shanghai Office
Suite 1103, 11th Floor
Metro Tower,
30 Tian Yao Qiao Rd.
Shanghai, 200030 200030
Phone: +86 21 6085 2701
Mobile: 1370 1835 643
E-mail: simon.leng@cummins.com
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