Bourbon takes Liberty with serial production
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 at Ningbo in China, MJ contributor Alan Haig-Brown was overwhelmed by the scope of the project, and he was only seeing a part of it.
At the end of Bourbon’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.
In addition to other vessels, Bourbon has 54 of the Guido Perla & Associates designed GPA254 Liberty 200 series AHTS 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 pull on each drum for towing and anchor handling respectively, as well as stern rollers, retractable tow pins and shark jaws for the safe stopping of wires and chains during anchor handling operations. The 59.78m long, 15m beam vessels have a bollard pull of approximately 85 tons.
Three Cummins QSK60 diesel engines rated for 1,825 kW at 1,800 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.
To meet the rigorous delivery schedule, the Zhejiang Shipyard has marshalled 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 vessels. 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.
