Strategic Marines to open Mexican Yard

Strategic Marine reported that it will open its first shipyard in the Americas in early 2008 following a joint venture bid with Servicios Navales E Industriales S.A. DE C.V. (SENI) to build two 52m aluminum crew boats for Arrendadora Ocean Mexicana S.A. de CV (Blue Marine Offshore) in Mexico.

Strategic Marine already operates yards at its Henderson headquarters in Western Australia, Tuas in Singapore and Dong Xuyen Industrial Zone, Ba-Ria Vung Tau in southern Vietnam.

The $11.9m contract will see the two vessels operated by Blue Marine Offshore for its Pemex contract in the Gulf of Mexico.

Work on the contract is scheduled to commence this year, before which Strategic will work with SENI to upgrade its existing maintenance facility at Mazatlan on the Mexican west coast.

Both vessels will be based on Strategic’s Deep V High Speed Planing Hull design and will be operated by a 10-man crew with a 60 passengers capacity in addition to 100 tonne of cargo at a cruising speed of 20knts.

The company believes the contract win was heavily influenced by its powertrain decision which provided greater hull efficiency and hence reduced fuel consumption. Strategic Marine chairman, Mark Newbold, said the Mazatlan yard would provide Strategic Marine with the ability to target both the North and South American offshore and para-military markets. Design of the two vessels will be undertaken at the company’s Henderson facility. For more information, Email [email protected]