GPA-Designed PSV Fleet Expands

Guido Perla, Chairman of Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. said that French marine services provider Bourbon Offshore has placed an order for 4 GPA 670 MKII Methanol, expanding their well-proven GPA designed fleet to 96 vessels, including 54 GPA 254 AHTS, 24 GPA 654 PSV and 4 GPA 670 ROV vessels, which were all ordered within the last year.

The 70-meter GPA 670 MKII Methanol platform support vessels, currently under construction at Zhejiang Shipyard in China, will be equipped with two Z-Drive, open-water propeller units, as well as two tunnel bow thrusters. The use of environmentally friendly diesel-electric propulsion results in excellent fuel efficiency, as well as lower operating cost for the owner. The vessel features fuel efficiency for the GPA 670 series, of which Bourbon is already operating ten vessels. The GPA 670 MKII will primarily be engaged in the transport of stores, materials and equipment to offshore installations in tropical areas and distinguishes itself from other platform support vessels mainly due to its ability to carry approximately 170 cubic meters of Methanol in specially designed tanks located in the aft end of the vessel. Furthermore, the DP2- and FFV1-certified vessel, which can accommodate 23 crewmembers, also provides the capability to carry 255 cubic meters of bulk material, as well as 1083 cubic meters of liquid products. Delivery for the first GPA 670 MKII Methanol is expected at the end of May 2008 with the last due in December 2008, increasing the number of GPA 670 PSVs Bourbon owns to 18.