New AX 104 represents an innovative quantum leap
Bourbon Offshore Norway has taken an innovative quantum leap by their participation in developing an ULSTEIN AX104 anchor handling vessel with the distinctive ULSTEIN X-BOW™ from Ulstein Design AS. The vessel stands out due to its three innovations: diesel electric propulsion, inverted bow design and the introduction of a new safe anchor handling system. The shipping company has been a prime mover in making this possible.
NEW BOW DESIGN
The first thing one notices about an ULSTEIN
AX104 vessel is the new bow shape. The bow is the opposite of what is common, in
other words it slopes backwards instead of forwards. This concept is called
Ulstein X-Bow.
“The vessel cleaves the waves in such a way that noise and
vibration in the vessel are reduced. The hull’s shape reduces slamming against
the vessel, and there is little sea spray on deck. This contributes to greater
operational safety in rough seas,” stresses Ulstein. “Thinking new is important
at Ulstein Design and something we try to do. However, thinking new is not
enough; you have to have bold shipping companies who dare to be the first.
Bourbon Offshore Norway has proved to be in this category. They immediately got
excited about the bow’s shape, and the vessel is thus now being built,” he
says.
“We really liked the bow design, and the model tests showed that it
is terrific compared with conventional designs,” says Bourbon Offshore Norway’s
marketing director, Trond Myklebust. “Besides lower fuel consumption, the bow
improves comfort onboard, which results in a better rested crew. By choosing a
vessel of this type, we are setting a completely new standard for offshore
vessels of the future,” he says.
“The vessel is equipped with SAHS, a system from ODIM for safer anchor handling work. The goal is to eliminate the hazardous operations inherent in such work. Methods have been developed which mean that sailors are protected during the most hazardous operations such as capturing anchor chains’ pennant wires, shackling and unshackling cables, and capturing buoys. We have also made changes to some of the details of the vessel itself to improve safety,” reports Tore Ulstein. Trond Myklebust says that anchor handling methods, and the risks they involve, have not changed in 20 years. “Everyone agrees that the risks are far too great in anchor handling work, and we do something about it by contracting this vessel. SAHS is an example of local, groundbreaking work. The source of inspiration was an invitation from Statoil to develop safer anchor handling. In partnership with ODIM and Ulstein Design we have developed a total concept,” he says. “We have drawn on the expertise and experience of skippers, sailors, crane operators and platform bosses, as well as the expertise of our partners. The maritime cluster in North Western Norway provides a foundation for the development of good innovation projects in partnership with companies. With essential support from the Research Council of Norway, we have achieved a result that we believe revolutionises vessel safety within anchor handling.” “The bow design eliminates slamming by the sea. The shape means the vessel can achieve higher speeds in all conditions, and fuel economy is good,” reports Tore Ulstein, president of both Ulstein Design and Ulstein Verft.
The vessel will also be one of the first anchor handling
vessel in the world with diesel electric propulsion.
“Diesel electric propulsion results in lower lifecycle costs, discharges of environmentally hazardous gasses are reduced and vessels are more manoeuvrable. While conventional systems are cheaper to purchase, a vessel with diesel electric propulsion systems will save several million NOK in fuel costs each year. In addition to this, one reduces the engines´ running time, thus also reducing wear and tear. Nonetheless, of the offshore fleet it is only supply vessels that are thus equipped. The new ULSTEIN AX104 will be one of the first AHTS vessels in the world with diesel electric propulsion,” says Ulstein. “We believe that diesel electric systems benefit anchor handling vessels more than they do platform supply vessels, because much of the work is taken up by pure waiting,” says Trond Myklebust. ”With conventional propulsion all the machinery is running all the time, while with diesel electric propulsion, only the power needed is extracted. This is very good, both financially and environmentally,” he says.
Buoy retreival with SAHS