10 TEU boxship for beach landings in Oz

Australian shipbuilder Strategic Marine has signed a contract with a local West Australian marine operations company, Bhagwan Marine, to build a 48.5m landing craft for use in the Australian offshore oil and gas industry.

The vessel will be used in Western Australian?s north-west hydrocarbon province and has been designed by International Maritime Consultants, to accommodate for low incline beach landings. The craft?s design features a low angle bow to enable heavy equipment to be driven over the ramp door.

With a 12.8m beam, the vessel can accommodate up to ten 20-foot containers with a maximum payload of 400 tonnes.

An added advantage is claimed to be its economical fuel consumption of about 150 litres/h at 10 knots cruising speed.

The vessel, with plans to name it the

Bhagwan Shaker,

after its sister vessel is named

Bhagwan Mover

, will be built at Strategic Marine?s largest shipyard at Vung Tau in Vietnam.

Strategic Marine says it will be working around the clock to complete the contract in time for the vessel?s first scheduled contract, in mid-February next year. Chairman Mark Newbold said the contract represented an exciting threshold in broadening the company?s services and expertise.

“Although we have vast experience building landing craft, the design and dimensions are a first for Strategic Marine as is the contract with the Bhagwan Marine Group which we are looking forward to working with more and more into the future,” said Newbold.

Loui Kannikoski, managing director of Bhagwan Marine said: “We have chosen to build with Strategic due to their quality of build and also commitment to the very tight build time.”

Although a multi-cargo vessel, it will be primarily used to transfer building and construction equipment in the areas around Dampier, Onslow and Barrow Island.

“We would like to think this landing craft will have an advantage over other vessels, with the specialised ability to land on the beach, in these locations,” Kannikoski said.

“This will be the 27th vessel for the Bhagwan Marine Group?s combined fleet, and we expect to start another similar vessel within three months as well as some shallow draught azmithing tugs.”

Strategic Marine has recently purchased the lease for its Singapore shipyard, further adding to the company?s commitment of becoming a global industry player. The news comes after the decision was taken to double the yard?s capacity to meet anticipated demand for crew boats and offshore service vessels.