Sonsub Inc News

Sonsub Inc. announces the promotion of David Sheetz to vice president of operations. Sheetz has been with Sonsub for almost 12 years and has served mostly in operational roles, starting as an ROV technician, progressing through Supervisor to Offshore Superintendent. As vice president operations, Sheetz will take responsibility for execution of all offshore projects undertaken by Sonsub Inc. This role within the Sonsub organization has recently taken on more responsibility and added complexity due to the expansion of Sonsub into more complex and comprehensive subsea construction contracting, including the management of long term vessel charters.

Sonsub, Inc. has been awarded patent no. 6,350,085 B1 for a cable deployment system and method that is ideally suited to efficiently install 4D seismic cables on the seafloor. This patent allows precise placement of the long seismic cables needed to form large-scale 4D arrays and incorporates a built-in anchor for the second end of the cable as well as an armored riser cable to the surface. The system incorporates direct connection of the seismic cable to the riser cable to the surface and does not require an electrical or fiberoptic swivel. The system is designed to operate with a single ROV, which is used to set the first end of the cable and then monitors the payout of the cable and controls the location of the cable as it is deployed.

Sonsub Inc. is currently offering time slots for their ROV spread consisting of the HOS Dominator support vessel and the 2500m Triton XL 11 ROV system. Available for work during the time frame of April 21st to June 1st in the Gulf of Mexico, the vessel and ROV spread has been configured for light subsea construction and well intervention flying lead and umbilical installations. Additionally, the spread is well suited for route clearance and trenching of fiber optic and power cables using one of Sonsub's cable/pipeline trenching systems. The HOS Dominator measures 240 x 54 ft., is Class II DP vessel with a 30-ton A-frame. It has accommodations for 36 people, and offers a moon pool, a roll stabilization system, and an optional portable reel and vertical lay ramp system.

The Delaware River Pilots Association recently contracted with Carey's Diesel to repower a vessel with a pair of Isotta Fraschini marine diesel engines, rated at 550 hp @ 2,400 rpm. This is the third vessel the Pilots Association has chosen to repower using Isotta Fraschini engines. The first Isotta Fraschini repowers were two 56,000-lb. vessels named Wilmington and Delaware. Wilmington's two 8V-72T Detroit Diesel two-cycle, eight cylinder engines were replaced with two V1308T2 MLH Isotta Fraschini four-stroke, V-8 cylinder marine diesel engines. Delaware's two 8V-92 Detroit Diesel two-cycle, eight cylinder engines were replaced with a pair of V1312T2 MLH Isotta Fraschini four-stroke, V-12 cylinder marine diesel engines.

In today's fast moving offshore service industry with vessels venturing deeper and deeper into the Gulf of Mexico and to far off oilrigs around the world, communications is more important than ever. Today's offshore service vessels need far more ship-to-ship, ship to shore and even internal ship communications than ever before. "System redundancy is the key to today's state-of-the-art marine communications system", said Karl Beier, president of Beier Radio, Harvey, La. one of the leading suppliers of maritime communications equipment. "Communications backups not only make good sense but SOLAS rules mandate separate communications systems be in place to meet the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)", Beier added.

Sonsub Inc. recently signed a 3 year charter agreement with Otto Candies, LLC for a New Build IMR Construction Vessel. The yet to be named 280ft, Class II DP Vessel includes a 100T tele-knuckle boom crane, a 20’ X 25’ moon pool, accommodations for 66 personnel, and outfitted with one or two 200Hp Innovator ROV systems depending upon the project and client requirements. The vessel will be the first and only US flagged vessel in the GOM capable of supporting subsea construction projects in addition to standard remote intervention and maintenance tasks. The Moon-pool & crane arrangement will allow safe and stable deployment to the seabed on heavy loads, like manifolds, as well as the lay of umbilical and/or coil tubing lines.

Sonsub Inc. has signed a three year charter agreement with Harvey Gulf International Marine Inc. for a new build, 252-ft. ROV support vessel to work in the Gulf of Mexico. The M/V Harvey Discovery is a US Flagged, ABS Classed DP 2 Notation vessel which has been configured for various forms of subsea construction support and intervention services with a Sonsub 200Hp Innovator® ROV, a 100 ton stern roller and a 65 metric ton electro-hydraulic knuckle boom crane. A 12’ X 12’ moon pool, 9,000sqft of clear deck space, and berthing for 46 personnel has also been incorporated into the design to maximize the effectiveness of the spread for tasks such as surveys, geophysical sampling, inspections and touch down monitoring. The spread will be available for work March 2006.

Deep Marine Technology, Inc. announced the election of Bruce C. Gilman to Chairman of the Board. A businessman with CEO level management expertise, Gilman’s four decade Subsea Career is highlighted with professional accomplishments such as President of both Perry Offshore & Oceaneering International Inc.; President and Founder of Sonat Subsea Services; President, CEO & Director of Sonsub Inc., and Chairman and President of Saipem Inc., the US Subsidiary of Saipem SpA.

Mud, Mud, Mud. Liquid mud is the name of the game in the design of today's offshore service vessels. The drilling rigs not only want huge volumes of mud, but they want the vessels that serve them to be able to carry several different types of liquid mud. That means two or three separate piping and pumping systems to keep the mud from cross contamination. That also increases demands for automated control and alarm systems, many of which utilize touch screen controls. The rigs also need dry bulk cement, barite and other such products, so dry bulk tanks with 6,000 or so cu. ft. of capacity would be desired. Many rig owners would also like the vessels to carry methanol and…

No one ever said that working on the inland rivers or in the Gulf of Mexico on a vessel was a picnic. It is axiomatic that the hours are long, the work physically demanding and the workplace environment potentially dangerous. That is why newer deliveries emphasize crew habitability. Vessel owners and operators know that well-rested and well-fed crews are safer crews and safety cannot be over emphasized in this severe setting. That is why there has been a significant upgrading in crew accommodations, galleys and entertainment and communications options. The three workboats profiled below offer proof positive that today's "crew friendly" boats are safer and more enjoyable places to work. No vessel type has more personnel on board than a crew boat.

Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. of Mandeville La. delivered its first Classed DP II PSV, HOS Innovator, for service. Leevac Industries of Jennings, La. constructed the vessel to Hornbeck's design. Upon delivery, the vessel began a three-year charter with Sonsub Inc. of Houston, Texas as a multi functional ROV Support Vessel. Measuring 240 x 54 x 18 ft. (73.1 x 16.4 x 5.4 m), this vessel is the first of six DP II classed vessels to be delivered to Hornbeck Offshore during the next eight months. The latest of the HOS "New Breed" has been uniquely engineered to offer numerous advantages over existing tonnage in the U.S flag fleet. The unique hull form assists in making the Innovator a very DP capable and fuel-efficient vessel.

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico region is again poised to prosper, spurred by the buzz of activity surrounding the oil patch, and specifically the renewed vigor with which companies will explore and develop deepwater fields for the production of natural resources. Though the resumption of business at "full throttle" has taken perhaps a bit longer than many observers would have initially predicted, particularly given the continued high price of oil and gas and the "pro" oil industry political team occupying the White House, it is a safe bet that, at least for the next several years, the offshore oil business will ensure that the marine business in the GOM region is a prosperous one.

Although this has been considered an off year in the Gulf of Mexico from rig count and fleet utilization standpoints, it is another record year for major offshore operators expanding their fleets and the shipyards that are building these vessels. Last year, over 50 supply boats were delivered and about an equal number of crew/supply vessels made their way into the fleets of operators. This year looks equally robust as vessels are being ordered in quantities of four, six and even 10. This begs the question as to why offshore vessel operators are order record number of vessels if the business is sluggish? The answer is two fold: Deep water and deep gas. Drilling activity is bound to increase based on these two factors industry leaders believe.