Two Tigers for Aries

Lafayette, La.-based Aries Marine Corp. signed a letter of intent with Eastern Shipbuilding Group for the construction of two ?TIGER? shark class platform supply vessels (PSVs). These will be built to the Aker Yards Marine PSV 23 DE design, which is an AC diesel electric, twin Z-drive, DP-2 offshore service vessel that meets or exceeds new IMO regulations for carriage of fuel oil, drilling fluids or other pollutants by incorporating a double-skin IMO-compliant hull.

The vessels, the first of which will be named ?Dwight S. Ramsay? after Aries Marine’s founder, will measure 87 m by 19 m by 7 m. While classed for international operations, the vessels are expected to join Aries’ Gulf of Mexico fleet.

The new PSVs will be capable of transporting 15,165 barrels of liquid mud, accommodating 36 people and transporting cargo on 953 sq m of deck space. The vessels’ large generator package will allow Aries’ customers to power various activities, such as remotely operated vehicles, accommodation modules and pipeline treatment equipment.

Aries Marine President Court Ramsay said, “We are proud of our record and the service that we have provided to our customers day-in and day-out for the last 26 years. We believe we can carry out this record and reputation over to a larger class of vessel, and we look forward to meting the demands of a growing deep water market.”

The TIGER shark design is part of the Shark Series of three environmentally-friendly PSVs designs by Aker Yards Marine and Poseidon Maritime (UK) Ltd. that Eastern Shipbuilding has modified to meet the specific performance, capacity and comfort. In addition to the TIGER class PSV, the Shark Series also includes two 79 metre designs dubbed the MAKO shark class and the THRESHER shark class.

A key feature of the PSV 23 DE design is the location of the power generating plant on the main deck in separate port and starboard engine rooms, freeing up cargo volume below deck by eliminating the traditional below-deck engine room. With this arrangement, the vessel will have the space to hold the same volume of liquid cargo as vessels of a similar size constructed prior to the implementation of the IMO regulations. Another benefit to the extra below-deck volume is the provision of sufficient dedicated ballast capacity to ensure all propellers remain immersed after cargo is unloaded, improving DP station keeping during rougher weather.

The main electrical rooms are located immediately forward of the port and starboard engine rooms. Placing the machinery spaces on the main deck provides a number of benefits, including simplified ancillary systems, notably in terms of engine room ventilation and exhaust systems. The design eliminates stacks and exhaust piping external to the deck house, improving visibility from the pilot house. Another design feature is the elimination of all hydraulic systems.