Houston-based Southern States Offshore Inc. entered into a contract with Island Boats Inc. of Jeanerette, La., for the construction of two fast supply boats designed by Travis Carver of Sterling Marine Ltd. to be delivered in January and July 2009. Each vessel will be powered by four Cummings QSK50-M engines for a total output of 7,200 hp driving four propellers.
The vessels, which will be capable of reaching loaded speeds of up to 25 knots, will have dimensions of 170 feet by 32 feet by 12.5 feet (52m x 10m x 3.8m) with capacity for 70 passengers and 308 tons (279 tonnes) of deck cargo. The two new supply boats, Southern Belle and Southern Star, will work in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico with similarly designed vessels Southern Comet and Southern Spirit.
In addition to the fast supply boats, Southern States ordered the
construction of a newbuild offshore support vessel (OSV) from Thoma-Sea
Ship Builders LLC of Houma, La. The vessel, which is scheduled for
delivery in January 2010, will be 242 feet by 54 feet by 17 feet (74m x 16m x 5m) with SOLAS and Dynamic Positioning II classifications. The vessel will operate in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
The OSV, to be named Southern Cross, will be powered by two Caterpillar
Model 3516C Tier II Main Engines producing a total of 4,200 hp to drive
Lips/Wartsila Z drive azimuthing thrusters. The vessel will also be
equipped with two controllable pitch bow thrusters. Southern Cross will be able to carry 8,500 barrels of liquid products in eight below-deck, self-cleaning tanks and 6,000 cubic feet (170 cu m) in six centerline, below-deck tanks. With a deck cargo capacity of 3,024 tons (2,743 tonnes), the vessel will have a cruising speed of 12 knots.
