GPA wins research ship design contract

The basic design for the T-AGOR-27 ocean class ship was developed by GPA during a Navsea sponsored design competition while under contract with Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) and partnered with leading marine industry equipment vendors. The Navy-owned vessel will be operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution of Massachusetts. A second vessel may be awarded at a later date.

GPA will support DCI, a shipyard in Anacortes, near Seattle, throughout the construction and delivery of the vessel. GPA says that it and DCI share a number of successful projects, granting a solid foundation for the development and construction of T-AGOR-27. The ship is scheduled for delivery in late 2014.

“The combination of competence, practicality, understanding of government contracts and procedures but also thinking outside the box gave GPA the essential advantage in the lengthy competition process. We are not only extremely excited for GPA to be an essential part of this prestigious project but also for DCI and the local community as the AGOR project secures employment for many workers and suppliers in the area during these tough economic times. Since 2009, we have invested a lot of time and effort into this proposal and competition in very close collaboration with DCI, a shipyard we have an excellent personal and professional relationship with and a long track record of working together. We believe this relationship definitely enhanced the result of the design and will guarantee a continuation of the project to a successful completion. Being awarded the contract reinforced our belief in our capabilities and hard work and the importance of relationships and dedication,” says Guido Perla, chairman of GPA.

To win this order, GPA was hired by Dakota Creek Industries to provide a basic design during the Phase I Navsea design competition. This phase required development of an original design of the vessel including hull form, structure, arrangements and systems, and integration of equipment from vendors throughout the marine industry to meet a demanding government specification and limited budget. GPA’s unique hull form was optimised for sonar operations and fuel efficiency and was model tested during this phase to verify conformation with Navy requirements. This year long process involved multiple design reviews to US Navy and other government organisations and some ABS regulatory review. GPA worked closely with DCI to ensure that production methods were taken into account early in the design process.

According to GPA, the demands in the field of marine research are becoming more challenging, calling for more sophisticated, larger and safer vessels.  The T-AGOR-27 is the third complex research vessel in GPA’s portfolio and will follow in the footsteps of the RV Kilo Moana (T-AGOR-26), the first GPA-developed research vessel, in replacing ageing intermediate class ships. These newer vessels employ science teams of up to 25 members, utilising newly- developed research equipment. Earlier in 2011, GPA received a contract for design validation of the cold-climate, oceanographic research ship RV Sikuliaq. All three vessels contribute to the university research vessel fleet in the US.

The T-AGOR-27 will have the capability of carrying sufficient supplies and support systems to stay at sea for up to 40 days, covering up to 10,000 naut miles and withstanding high sea and wind conditions. These capabilities will combined with the ability to operate 75% of the time during the Pacific Northwest and North Atlantic’s winter months.

The equipment package includes:

• multibeam seafloor mapping system for deep and shallow water;
• sub-bottom profiler to map sediments below the seafloor;
• acoustic doppler current profiler to map currents throughout the water column;
• precise navigation tools for tracking instruments in the water beneath the ship; and an
• array of networked sensors to measure atmospheric and ocean properties.

The total variable science load, in part stored in up to 2,000 ft² of internal labs and facilities, is 100-200 long tons. These facilities will include a variety of lab types with reconfigurable benches, cabinetry and special electrical requirements, storage for hazardous materials, repair facilities for equipment and systems providing uncontaminated seawater. Besides the indoor facilities, the scientists require a 2,000 ft² working area in the stern up top that can handle a range of temporary equipment, 80 ft² of clear deck area alongside one rail, as well as a range of recovery equipment, including winches, wires, cranes, frames, booms and others. Other deck areas will be used to handle incubators, vans, workboats and other temporary equipment.

Acoustic characteristics of the vessel are another important factor in this project due to sensitive instrumentation and experiments, as well as modern crew comfort requirements. The vessel was designed to meet all Navy noise and vibration requirements through a careful analysis of equipment selection and location, as well as noise insulation treatments.

Emphasis was placed on the vessel’s ability to operate in rough weather for extended periods of time in a safe and efficient manner. This required GPA to integrate many different systems for remote and automated controls. Major systems include:

• integrated diesel-electric plant design with ABS ACCU notation;
• DP capabilities and precise vessel manoeuvring requirements; and
• deck handling systems with high levels of remote operation capability.

GPA says that it worked with experts in these various systems to ensure that operational requirements were met or exceeded using minimum personnel and high factors of safety for the crew. GPA claims that about 200 vessels to its designs, equipped with such systems, have been delivered or are currently under construction worldwide.

“We are very satisfied with the fact that the vessels we design comply with the highest safety standards and we are looking forward to creating yet another safe work environment for the people aboard this research vessel. This project definitely reinforced our company motto Ideas Engineered Into Reality,” concludes Perla.