World's OFFSHORE VESSELS

[pilotdane]

I can not imagine it is comfortable aboard Bourbon Mistral in rough seas. Not that any ship is comfortable in a storm but with all the accommodation space shoved all the way to the bow. I doubt that fancy bow can really smooth the ride much.

[Steve.B]

Then we have the x-bow construction vessels, with helideck and a long bridge/superstructure, like "Viking Poseidon". They are downright tough, in my personal view.
Seen here in the image of Ole Fuglestad/Skipslisten


But I agree with you clearly: Bourbon Mistral is not exactly a beauty to watch.

Now i think this one looks so much better. A more pleasing shape, and that colour scheme, i have to admit to really loving that, i just think it looks so good on that type of vessel, much nicer than the green and white of the Bourbon ships. Like you say, she looks tough, this girl really means business!

[Steve.B]

I can not imagine it is comfortable aboard Bourbon Mistral in rough seas. Not that any ship is comfortable in a storm but with all the accommodation space shoved all the way to the bow. I doubt that fancy bow can really smooth the ride much.

I have to agree, i cannot see how it can be comfortable, and can you imagine the noise of waves hitting that slap of steel! Take a good set of ear muffs is what i say. Better still, hang a hammock in the steering flat, that's bound to be much quieter and more comfortable!

[Steve.B]

She reminds me of one of those 1960s Commer pickups :





Clipper

Thinking about it, if you look at her, don't you think she would look much nicer if they simply stuck a pointed bit on the stern and then went everywhere backwards?

And oh yes, looks like someone is about to land a small flying orange boat on the aft deck!

[Sterkoder]

From members of the crew:

The design gives a much smoother ride in head on weather and waves, and these x-bow vessels are submitted to a lot less stamping.
In bad weather these x-bows can go with several knots higher speed and a lot less consumption of fuel that the conventional designed ships.

The crew say they are very comfortable to be on board, and I choose to belive the men and women actually serving on these vessels

Or what do you say; "Skandi Caledonia" at 8 knots, "Bourbon Orca" doing 13

[Steve.B]

Ok, the first ten seconds of that video have converted me! Darn good idea them x-bows, have always thought so.

[Clipper]

Darn good idea them x-bows, have always thought so.

Has anyone got a photo of an x-bow in dry dock? I want to know what goes on (shape-wise) underwater.

Clipper

[ombugge]

I agree, but do we know that Bourbon Mistral doesn't have wheels!!?

In American popular terms she HAS!!!
(They call propellers "Wheels" in some parts)

[ombugge]

Has anyone got a photo of an x-bow in dry dock? I want to know what goes on (shape-wise) underwater.

Clipper

Why not get it directly from the horses mouth: http://www.ulsteinlab.com/ or: http://www.ulsteingroup.com/kunder/u...ilding_ny.html

[pilotdane]

After watching that video I really want a ride on an X-bow. It took forever to download on my satellite Internet connection but it was worth it. I wish I could get it up on the big screen with the surround sound.

[Clipper]

Why not get it directly from the horses mouth: http://www.ulsteinlab.com/ or: http://www.ulsteingroup.com/kunder/u...ilding_ny.html

Thanks for that. It seems it's quite smooth below the waterline. No bulbous bow, so the efficiency must be achieved another way.

Clipper

[Clipper]

After watching that video I really want a ride on an X-bow. It took forever to download on my satellite Internet connection but it was worth it. I wish I could get it up on the big screen with the surround sound.

I asked a chap at work to research the music. It's Blodhund by Jokke med Tourettes (Joachim Nielsen), from the album Tomgang.

Clipper

[Sterkoder]

Easter silence is covering Kristiansund, but during the morning hours, "Northern Commander" came in to get a piece of rest
(And looking at my first picture of the vessel, I see now that my camera maces model ship images itself, without me going via TiltShift)

[ombugge]

Ever wondered what an offshore Plow (or Trencher) look like?

Here is one, seen at Loyang Offshore base today:


What does it take to handle this baby?
Here is the AHTS Maersk Assister, 23,500 Bhp / 284 m.t. Bollard Pull, also seen at Loyang:


I have no idea where they are heading next, or where they have been working, since my assignment was on a much smaller and simpler vessel, the AHTS Pacific Battler, seen here testing FiFi System a few days ago:

She has just returned from an assignment in Australia and is heading for her next job, in the Philippines.

[Sterkoder]

"Edda Flora" in Kristiansund this afternoon


Together with "Edda Fauna"


"Seabed Viking" visiting Vestbase

[ombugge]

A few more Offshore vessels seen in Singapore the last couple of days.

Maersk Assister getting ready to go "somewhere:, I don't know where:


And off she goes:


But not everybody has work to go to jet. Here is a few Offshore vessels idle at Loyang Base yesterday:




My target of the day was the last in this row of boats:

ROV/Survey Support vessel "Fugro Solstice. She was "only" number 15 from the wharf this time. Getting ready to go to work in Burma.

[ombugge]

This is an old lady that is still going strong:

AHTS "Pacific Challenger", built in Sweden in 1983. As seen last week at Jurong West Anchorage.

The Pakarang view:







A scrap monger alongside looking for some trade.

Instantly recognizable as an UT704 in this view:


She is heading to the Philippines in a few days time to assist in off-loading a Drilling rig from a heavy lift ship, position it on location and serve a supply vessel during the drilling campaign, together with a "Sister", the "Pacific Battler".

She is the last of the UT 704s in the Swire Pacific Offshore fleet.

[pakarang]

Love the pakarang - view of the Pacific Challenger, it looks awesome!

[ombugge]

There have been a number of the UT 704 design boats presented in this forum over time, some identified as such and some not.
I have presented two UT 704 vessels in some details lately, the Migthy Tide (Post 284 - 290) and the Pacific Challenger (Post 337 above)

The history of the UT 704 design is in many ways the history of Norwegian involvement in the Offshore Vessel segment of shipping and ship design.
Here is a couple of links to articles detailing the UT 704 history:
http://www.shipsandoil.com/Features/featUT704.htm
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/guides.../Supply_Vessel
None of which is Norwegian bragging, since they are from non-Norwegian sources.

There have been built 91 vessels to this design world wide, from 1975 to 1985 or so.
Nearly ALL of them are still in service, including the first built at Ulstein Yard, Ulsteinvik, Norway, the "Stad Scotsman":

Now Reliance Star 1 under Nigerian flag, ex Seabulk Condor, ex Red Condor, ex Far Scotsman

Here seen as the Seabulk Condor in Abidjan, Ivory Coast:


And the second one, Stad Sea:

Now Seabulk Falcon II, ex Red Falcon, ex Far Sea.

Before the first UT designed vessels took to the seas the industry standard were the US built boats, which was intended for the Gulf of Mexico, but was used even in the North Sea in the early years of oil exploration.
Here is one such boat:

Still active in Indonesia

In 1974 Ulstein built two AHTS for Tidewater Marine Inc. USA, which was a big step up from the GOM boats, but the design and much of the equipment came from the US. Here is one of them, the Giant Tide:

Still active in the Tidewater fleet as far as I know.

Here is some action pictures of UT 704s for your enjoyment:





As and when possible I'll post more UT 704s on this forum as their importance for the development of the Norwegian Offshore Industry, and the world wide offshore fleet in general should not be under estimated.

[ombugge]

Not an UT 704, but I thought it fitted in with a couple of the pics above: