Crewboat Merlin Tide Sold to European Buyers

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington has announced that Tidewater Marine International Inc. has sold its44.2m x 8.1m x 3.6m depth / 1.7m draft, 168mtdw, high-speed, aluminum crew / supply vessel Merlin Tide\ to private European operators for continued operation in oilfield service.

Built by Swiftships Shipbuilders LLC of Morgan City, Louisiana for Tidewater as Hull 524 in 1999, the vessel is powered by five 956kW Cummins KTA 38M2 diesels developing a total of 6,600BHP at 1,900RPM, driving four 4-blade bronze 46” x 46” fixed pitch props plus a centerline aft hydro-jet for additional maximum thrust. This propulsion package develops speeds from ranging from about 18kn economical to 27kn maximum with fuel consumptions from 150 – 304gph respectively and a range of about 1,925nm at economic speed.

The Vanuatu-flagged “Merlin Tide” has deck cargo capacity of 111.8 tonnes on a clear deck space aft of 21.9m x 6.4m and tankage for 70.5mt drill water and 52.4mt fuel and certified to carry a total of 159 persons on board in air conditioned accommodations. The vessel is classed by ABS with notations +A1, HSC, Restricted Service, AMS. “Merlin Tide” had been working in West Africa for Sonatide Marine Services Ltd. of Angola and was lying idle in Walvis Bay, Namibia at the time of the sale.

Marcon International acted as sole broker in the transaction and has handled over 20 sales for Tidewater since our sale of the 136’ first generation supply boat “Low Tide” in 1983, plus represented the Buyers in purchases of over a half dozen crewboats during the last fifteen – twenty years.

This is the 4th crewboat Marcon has sold this year and the 103rd crewboat sold over the last 34 years. We hope to report on several additional crewboat sales within the next 30 days.

Marcon International, Inc. has concluded a total of fourteen sales, charters and tows to date in 2015. Several additional sales are pending. Five 5,000HP twin screw or ASD tugs; one 9,700HP AHTS; one 5,150BHP, 2011 built AHTS; and two 230’ - 285’ barges continue to be fixed on previously arranged long-term charters.