Thailand’s Marsun Shipbuilder Grows Their Crewboat
Thailand’s Marsun Co. Ltd. has built a number of in-house designed 118-ft crewboats. Earlier this year they launched a 131-ft version.
Delivered in February the Uniexpress 18 went into service in the Gulf of Thailand for owner Uniwise Offshore Ltd. transporting up to 70 workers to and from oil rigs. In addition to personel, the boat can carry up to 50 tons of cargo on the 120 square-meter after deck. Tankage is provided for 50,000 liters of fuel and 20,000 liters of water.
Propulsion for the 131-ft crewboat is the same as that for Marsun’s 118-ft model. This is provided by three Cummins KTA38-M2 diesels each delivering 1350 BHP at 1950 RPM. The engines turn 1050-mm diameter Ni-Al-Bronze propellers through Twin disc MGX-6690SC gears with 1:2.47 ratios.
On sea trials this power package pushed the boat at 23 knots loaded to 30 tons dwt with a comfortable 18-knot cruising speed. Interestingly the 131-ft long by 25-ft wide hull achieved over a knot more speed on sea trials than the 118-ft version of the 11.8-ft deep hull.
Accommodation is provided for a crew of ten on the Uniexpress 18, which has electrical power provided by a pair of 80 kw generator sets.