Large PSV joins Swire Pacific fleet

The 4,706dwt Pacific Hawk was built at USC’s Maizuru Shipyard and is a DP2 classed PSV of the STX PSV 09 CD design. Measuring 88.10m long overall and 19m wide, the vessel’s substantial carrying capacity is able to support offshore platform, semi-submersible or jack-up supply in addition to assisting in offshore construction work thanks to a large deck area.  

Neil Glenn, managing director of Swire Pacific Offshore, said, “We are excited to receive Pacific Hawk as the first of our new H class large PSVs. There is a clear demand for larger more versatile and fuel efficient vessels and she has already sparked a lot of interest from our clients.” 

The diesel electric power generation plant, comprising of four Wärtsilä 9L20 medium speed gensets each with an output of 1,665kW at 900rpm, drives the main propulsion system of two 2,200kW Rolls-Royce Contaz azimuthing thrusters. These propulsors have contra-rotating propellers offering improved propulsion efficiencies of around 10%-15% over conventional azimuth thrusters. The aft propeller regains some of the energy losses in the stream as well as significant rotational losses and there is, therefore, a lower installed power requirement that can release space and lower fuel consumption.

In addition to the main propulsors, the vessel is fitted with an 880kW electric motor driven tunnel type FPP bow thruster and an 880kW retractable azimuthing bow thruster, both supplied by Rolls-Royce. The latter propulsor enables the vessel to standby on location. For emergencies and harbour power there is a Nogva Motorfabrikk genset with an output of 370kW at 1,800rpm, 450V, three-phase 60Hz.

Designed to transport heavy loads of supplies, the newbuilding has a 1,000m³ cargo deck measuring 62m x 16.13m with a load bearing capability of 10 tonnes/m² aft of frame 30 and 5 tonnes/m² forward of frame 30. In total, the after deck can accommodate up to 2,400 tonnes of cargo.

Below the after deck, the vessel has a comprehensive range of cargo tanks for 855m³ potable water, 1,060m³ fuel, 2,708m³ ballast water, 3,787m³ drill water, 980m³ brine/glycol/liquid mud and 320m³ of dry bulk in six tanks. The newbuilding is also fitted with a 167m³ methanol tank and a 307m³ base oil tank. The various discharge pumps for the liquid cargo tanks are supplied by Ing Per Gjerdrum in Norway.

The Pacific Hawk has an array of deck machinery consisting of two 10 tonne tuggers, two 10 tonne capstans and two electrically driven windlass all manufactured by the Norwegian company Odim, a Rolls-Royce subsidiary. She also has a 5 tonne Koei crane fitted.

The navigation bridge provides a 360° all-round view and is equipped with an integrated bridge system supplied by Japan Radio Co. which includes the main radar, chart radar, navigation system, ECDIS, AIS, VDR, GPS/DGPS and echo sounder. The DP2 system is the Converteam ‘C’ series.

The 44 crew members are housed in the accommodation block which also contains restrooms, offices, canteens and meeting rooms. A waterjet version of the Norsafe Merlin 615 high speed MoB standby rescue boat is installed with a 15 person capacity.

Pacific Hawk is certified by DNV for ‘Clean Design’, resulting in lower emissions to atmosphere from all machinery including refrigerant gases and is delivered with a ‘green passport’ for future recycling across the life of the vessel.

Swire Pacific Offshore currently has eight units of the H class on order with four to be built by United Shipbuilding Corporation at the same yard in Japan and four to be built by the EISA shipyard in Brazil. These DP2 vessels will be slightly larger than the Pacific Hawk at 5,000dwt but are not based on the STX 09 design. The final design is still under wraps at this stage and the new-builds will be delivered progressively from the fourth quarter of 2013.

Principal dimensions:

Length oa 88.10m

Length bp 78.10m

Breadth moulded 19.00m

Depth, main deck 8.00m

Design draught 6.60m

Deadweight 4,704dwt

Gross tonnage 4,059gt

Maximum speed 16.1 knots

Service speed 12 knots