Singapore orders two AHTS vessels

Rolls-Royce has won a contract worth approximately £50 million to supply an integrated system of design and equipment for two advanced offshore vessels to be built for Lewek Shipping, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Ezra Holdings. A new design has been developed to meet the shipowner?s requirements and has been given the type name UT 788 CD. Singapore based Pan-United Marine will build the vessels.

These newbuildings will have many capabilities: ultra-deepwater anchor handling, towing, supply and standby duties. They will also be suited for the optional future activities such as subsea construction, ROV intervention, maintenance and repair work.

Minimising the vessel?s effect on the environment has been high on the list of requirements. For example, Lloyd?s Register EP notation is specified, covering emissions from engine exhaust and discharges to sea and air. Double bottom and double skin construction protect fuel tanks and potentially polluting cargo in the event of collision or grounding. The crew?s safety and well-being is equally important.

To cut fuel consumption and reduce emissions Rolls-Royce has developed a hybrid propulsion system. This caters for the large differences in power demand in the various operating modes. Only the engines necessary to supply the load need to be run, and they can run at an efficient rating. Electric motors can supplement the main engines when high power is required on the propellers. Conversely, two retractable azimuth thrusters enable the UT 788 CD to proceed at low speed with a very low fuel consumption and also provide part of the dynamic positioning capacity.

Crew safety is enhanced by the Rolls-Royce Safer Deck Operations system. Remote controlled travelling cranes and manipulators, pennant wire winder and other equipment are used to reduce the amount of risky crew work needed on deck during anchor-handling operations. A powerful three drum winch, two secondary winches and large rig chain lockers are provided for ultra-deepwater anchor-handling.

The first of the UT 788 CD multifunctional vessels is due for delivery in the first half of 2009, with the second following in the second half of that year.