ALP Maritime – a takeover and new fleet

As part of that transaction ALP has ordered four ultra‐long distance towing and anchorhandling vessels with a bollard pull of close to 300 tonnes from the Niigata Shipyard in Japan. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in October 2015.

An increasing number of extremely large floating production units on order around the world will require towing and hook-up services over the next decade(s), which will result in a growing demand for mooring leg survey, maintenance, repositioning, refurbishment and/or decommissioning services in the years ahead. Offshore floating production units are increasing in size and value and multi‐billion dollar field developments rely on floating production/storage units capable of operating on site for well over a decade without returning to a shipyard. The transport from the builder’s yard to site and the subsequent installation to the permanent mooring on site is therefore very important to the success of a project – hence the need for a new generation of suitably equipped vessels to carry out the work.

Operating in an exposed environment, there is a need for powerful, course stable and reliable towing vessels to control the ‘unit’ under any circumstances. The subsequent installation of the unit to a field’s mooring and riser systems requires vessels able to operate safely at close quarters to the unit, including lengthy heading control duties. Mooring leg maintenance and replacement operations demand vessels that comply with the stringent in‐field DP II requirements established for vessels working in live operating fields. The market therefore requires an ultra‐high quality towing vessel with the ability to offer flexible services throughout the production platform life cycle.

Working with the renowned naval architects of Ulstein Design & Solutions A/S, ALP has designed the SX–157, to be known as the ALP Future class. Although described by the company as an ‘anchorhandling towing vessel’, the design is in all respects an extremely sophisticated and powerful tug designed for the worldwide long distance towage of the world’s largest floating objects. The new vessels also offer clients the ability to perform additional services such as anchor/chain handling, survey, positioning and mooring work.

The ALP Future meets the highest industry standards in terms of design and equipment. Incorporated in the design for the new vessels is the Ulstein X‐BOW, offering course stability during long distance towing operations and improved handling in adverse weather conditions.

The specification for this new series of vessels is formidable. Each vessel will be 88.9m in length overall with a breadth of 21.0m, a maximum operating draft of 8.5m and deadweight of 4,250 tonnes. Construction will comply with DNV class rules with the following comprehensive notations; DVN +1A1, offshore service vessel +, Anchorhandling,Towing, EO, SF, Ice class 1B, FiFi II, Tmon, Bis, Dynpos-Autr, Naut-OSV(A), Clean design, Comf-V(3)BWM-T, Recyclable.

Four MAK main engines delivering 18,000kW at 600 rpm (approx 24,400 bhp) will power the propulsion system, comprising two 5m diameter controllable pitch propellers rotating in fixed nozzles. The reduction gearboxes installed in the shaft line also power shaft generators of 3,150ekW capacity. Twin ‘flap’ rudders are used, along with two tunnel thrusters of 1,500kW in the bow and two 1,050kW units at the stern.

That propulsion and manoeuvring system will give the vessels a bollard pull with all four engines running in excess of 280 tonnes. On two engines the ALP Future class will still provide an bollard pull of 170 tonnes, which in conjunction with the X-BOW hullform, DP II notation and very large bunker capacity, will outclass the current generation of long range tugs.

Tanks are provided for 3,200m3 of heavy fuel oil, 340m3 of marine gas oil, 300m3 of fresh water and 2,900m3 of water ballast. Those capacities will minimise bunker stops whilst towing very large FPSOs, FLNGs and similar floating installations.

Dynamic Positioning to DP II DNV DYN‐POS AUTR standard gives the vessels the ability to perform lengthy heading control duties, positioning and anchoring floating objects and carrying out disconnecting, mooring retrieval and other on-site duties in exposed locations.

The outfit of towing and anchorhandling gear aboard the ALP Future class will be equally impressive. Rolls-Royce SL-400-3T towing winches will be fitted, with maximum brake holding loads of 675 tonnes on both towing and anchorhandling drums. All three drums, two towing and one anchorhandling, will have the capacity to accommodate up to 2,510m of 86mm diameter steel wire rope. Also included are a number of rope and pennant storage drums, tugger winches, stern roller tow pins and other deck equipment to the highest standard.

The vessels will have high quality accommodation with a total of 36 berths for officers, crew and supernumeraries.

With ALP Maritime Services as part of the Teekay Offshore Group, the company will continue to operate fully independently within the organisation. Teekay is one of the world’s leading owners and operators of floating production/storage units. The years spent in the development of ALP Maritime Services BV and specifically on the ALP Future design was valued and recognised by Teekay, not only as a partner but also as one of the many customers that it hopes to serve in the next decades.