AMT Marine Building Fast Utility Boat at Hope Services

Andy Martin of AMT Marine will take delivery this May of a 136 x 34 x 12-ft. mini-supply boat from Hope Services of Dulac, La. The new boat, designed by Frank Basil's Entech and Associates of Houma, will be powered by a pair of Cummins V-12 KTA38 M0 main engines rated for 850 hp each at 1,800 rpm and driving through Twin Disc MG5301 gears with a ratio of 5.96:1. It's what this combination is driving that makes the story. On the end of each stainless steel six-in. shaft will be mounted a 66 x 54-in. five-blade prop from Padgett-Swan. Computer modelling has shown a gain of up to 1.5 knots with this combination and the five-blade props over four-blade props. Given the new boat's cargo capacities ? approximately 95,000 gallons of water and 90,000 of fuel ? in addition to lower operating costs, he expects to be competitive in meeting the needs of rigs working further off shore. "A displacement hull is a displacement hull," says Martin, "But we also expect to be cost competitive with a big crew boat that may be a few knots faster but we will have three or four times the cargo capacity as well as being certified to carry bulk and liquid mud tanks on deck." The boat has been designed with a large 75 x 32-ft. clear open aft cargo deck equivalent in size to many 150-ft. utility boats. But unlike most recent deliveries in the 150-ft. range, she will not have a raised fo'c'sle. "We want versatility in contracts and this enables us to work a diver off the bow. When a diver is walking a pipeline for inspection, the vessel operator needs the visibility forward to follow his bubble trail," explains Martin. Builder Lou Parker explains their architect consultant Entech & Associates has designed the three level deck house with accommodation for six crew in the mid-level as well as for up to 12-divers or construction workers on the main deck/galley level. Enclosed aft facing controls are built onto the aft side of the second level and can be easily reached from the third deck pilot house without having to go out into the weather. For holding position under the rigs the boat will be equipped with a 250 hp Thrust-Master tunnel bow thruster with hydraulic power from a 300 hp Cummins NTA855. Electrical service will be met with two Cummins 6CT 75 kW gen sets.