Eastern Launches Second Vessel for Bravante
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced the christening and launching of the M/V Bravante VI for Boldini S.A., Bravante Group of Brazil. This is the second vessel in a series of five. The event was held on August 5, 2013 at Eastern’s Nelson Street Facility with hundreds of Eastern’s Employees and Guests.
Attending from Bravante were Renato and Regina Nascimento, Nuno Neves and Rubia Amaral, William Grutter, Cristiana Marsillac and Luis Harduim along with several members that traveled from Brazil witnessing the launch of the second of five Platform Supply Vessels under contract with Eastern. The first vessel the Bravante V was launch in March of 2013 with final delivery set for later this month. In special attendance for the Bravante VI launch ceremony were Steve Southerland II, U.S Representative of Florida, 2nd District; Jack Reid, Regional Representative of Florida for Governor Rick Scott; Jeff Landry, Former U.S. Representative of Louisiana, 3rd District; Don Coll, U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD); Charles McHardy, Representing the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator and Leo Freites, Director of VShips Brasil.
Mr. Neves’s spouse Rubia had the honor of christening the vessel. Eastern’s President, Brian D’Isernia said a few words about the bright future of Shipbuilding here in the United States, providing more local jobs, his gratitude to Eastern’s skilled workers and the Offshore Marine Industry prior to the launch. The President of Bravante Group Renato Nascimento and U.S. Representative Steve Southerland both spoke about the journey taken to get to this great day along with the long term partnership between Bravante, Eastern and the U.S. Government. Father Roy Marien of Saint John’s Catholic Church located in Panama City, Florida performed the blessing of the vessel.
The second of five vessels is a series are ABS A-1, SOLAS/IMO, FFV-1, DPS-2, AC Diesel-Electric powered, twin propulsion PSV’s. These high-tech vessels feature four Cummins 16-cylinder turbo-charged IMO Tier II diesel generator engines each rated at 1825 kW at 1,800 rpm. Cummins also furnished the four Marathon Model 744 690VAC main generators. Main propulsion power is provided by two 690VAC electric motors driving two Schottel Combi-Drives Single Fixed Pitch Propellers with Nozzles rated at 2,500 kW at 750 rpm each for a total of 6,700 Hp. Schottel also provides two STT 4 Fixed Pitch Reversing Tunnel Thrusters rated at 1,180 kW at 1,170 rpm, each with direct coupled Hyundai 690VAC electric motors. GE Energy provides the complete system integrated diesel electric package, including the thruster drives, motors, control systems, DP system, switchboards, motor control centers, automation and navigation/ communication electronics. These vessels are capable of a maximum speed of 14 knots with a cruising speed of 12 knots. The fully integrated bridge is arranged for increased visibility and features the latest technology in navigation, communication equipment.
Vessel Dimensions (feet): 284’x 60’x 24’-6”
Vessel Dimensions (meter): 86.5m x 18.3m x 7.5m
Regulatory: Marshall Islands, ABS A-1, SOLAS/IMO
Power Generation: GE Energy Power Conversions: DE 690VAC
Generators: Cummins QSK60DM IMO II: 4 x 1825kW
Propulsion: Schottel SCD 2020 FP Z-Drives: 2 x 2,500kW
Bow Thrusters: Schottel STT4: 2 x 1,180kW
Sleeping Accommodations: Four four-man staterooms, five two-man staterooms and three one-man staterooms
The Bravante VI Platform Supply Vessel features the following capacities:
Cargo Fuel Oil Capacity: 442,675 USG (1,600m3)
Fuel Oil Day-tanks: 62,608 USG (237m3)
Potable Water Capacity: 26,575 USG (100.6)
Drill Water/Ballast Capacity: 513,550 USG (1,944m3)
Brine/Additional Drill Water Capacity: 5,030 bbls. (800m3)
Liquid Mud/Fuel Oil Capacity: 5,030 bbls. (800m3)
Dry-bulk Mud: 8,631 cuft. (244m3)
Clear Deck Area: 9,365 sqft. (870m2)
Firefighting Vessel: ABS FFV-1, 2x5284 GPM Monitors with Deluge System
All five vessels under contract are Marshall Islands Flag, IMO/SOLAS, ABS Classed A1, Offshore Support Vessel Ocean Service, Loadline, AMS, ACCU, Circle E, with additional ABS Class notations UWILD, ENVIRO, DPS-2. Starting with the BRAVANTE VI and including the remaining three vessels will feature the added Class notation ABS FFV-1.
STX Canada Marine provided the design which is the basis for the very successful and proven Eastern Shipbuilding “Tiger Shark Class” series. Seven other Offshore Supply Vessels in this series have been delivered to Eastern’s clients and have already proven themselves in worldwide operations.
Eastern Shipbuilding Group is currently under contract constructing a total of nineteen Offshore Supply Vessels of similar size and complexity for customers here in the United States and in Brazil. These contracts will maintain Eastern’s reputation as the largest OSV/PSV and MPSV new construction shipyard in the United States. Eastern currently has more than 1,500 employees and expects to add more than 200 new employees in all shipbuilding trades to fulfill future contracts.
