Rolls-Royce, GPA Collaboration Pays Dividends

Rolls-Royce and Guido Perla and Associates, Inc. (GPA) collaborative efforts are delivering results for customers in North America.

 

Rolls-Royce and GPA most recently teamed up last year to provide a highly innovative design and power & propulsion systems integration solution for two PSVs for Jackson Offshore Operators. Delivery of the first two GPA 675J PSVs, currently under construction at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Jacksonville, Florida, will be made in 2014.

The option for two additional vessels of the same type was exercised earlier this year.

The collaboration between the two market leaders has proven effective, with GPA handling the overall design, regulatory and class approval, and production engineering, while Rolls-Royce is delivering the power and propulsion system equipment and complete systems integration on each vessel.

Said Lee Jackson, President and CEO of Jackson Offshore Operators: “Our requirement was to have the most modern and efficient design, with the best integrated power and propulsion system, to create vessels that are tailored for current and future Gulf of Mexico offshore operations, including deepwater exploration and production. That led us to GPA and Rolls-Royce.

“First, these vessels have a very modern design that helps improve efficiency and sea-keeping ability in rough seas. Second, they have a highly optimized cargo capacity, with the engine room on main deck, and importantly, they also support increased comfort for the crew, with an extra deck added under the accommodation area.

“We then selected a fully-integrated Rolls-Royce power and propulsion systems package. The single source solution helps minimize the hardware interface complexity during construction and commissioning, including the integration of its own dynamic positioning and automation systems. In addition, we were able to generate significant space saving using low-voltage active front end drives from Rolls-Royce instead of conventional phase shift frequency converters and transformers.”

The Rolls-Royce scope of supply includes Azipull propulsion thrusters, tunnel thrusters and a Low-Voltage Active Front End Diesel Electric Power System and complete systems integration courtesy of an advanced Acon automation system, an Icon Dynamic Positioning (DP-2) system as well as “start-to-finish” project management including on-site advisory services, planning and commissioning.

Combining such leading edge technology with GPA’s design philosophy focused on practicality of construction and efficiency of operation allows clients to reduce upfront capital costs and maximize return on investment. The fundamental approach of bringing owner, shipyard, designer, and systems integrator to the table early in the planning effort is a core principle of GPA’s design approach, thus maximizing value to its clients and partners.

In addition to the Jackson Offshore project, Rolls-Royce and GPA are collaborating in the development of this same type of PSV into an LNG-fuelled variant while preserving the design attributes that make it ideal for operations in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere. Rolls-Royce and GPA anticipate details of this design to be available in the 1st quarter of 2014, optimized for ease of constructability and minimization of any impacts to the vessel’s cargo capacities, within a range of vessel sizes that meet the needs for offshore deepwater operations.