Field Support Vessels to be Built in Russia

Norway's KS North Sea Rescue AS has chosen an IMT 955-N design for a series of six Field Support Vessels to be built at the Yaroslavsky Shipbuilding Plant, Russia. The vessels are a modified version of the IMT Marine Consultants IMT 955 design of which nine are currently building at Astilleros Zamakona, Spain, for Vroon Offshore.

The Russian-built vessels will be operated by Stavanger-based Simon Møkster Shipping AS. The deal to choose a UK design to build at a Russian yard was brokered by Norwegian brokers Fearnleys, and the deal includes all equipment, which will be supplied through Russian firm VMF Shipping. Neil Patterson, managing director of IMT Marine Consultants, part of the Offshore Ship Designers group, says, "This is an exciting development, and we look forward to bringing this innovative design to the Norwegian market, and also to working with a Russian yard. The vessels are state of the art and offer excellent performance and minimal environmental foot print, while being very versatile and able to operate anywhere on the pan-European continental shelf."

The multi-role IMT 955-N vessels are 55.0 m LOA Field Support Vessels and will carry out logistics support offering cargo fuel, cargo potable water and deck cargo alongside their primary role as standby rescue vessels. They are fitted with extensive ship/ship, ship to shore and ship/air communications to allow the vessel to act as a command and control centre in the event of an offshore facility emergency or disaster, as well as having extensive search, rescue, treatment and recovery facilities for injured personnel or personnel in the water and emergency towing facility for assisting stricken vessels clear of offshore installations.

Vessel powering is based on a diesel-electric system, with four or six main generator sets and main propulsion is two 900 kW frequency controlled electric motor driven azimuth propulsion units, with auxiliary propulsion and thrust capacity at the bow using an 800 kW frequency controlled electric motor driven retractable azimuth thruster and a 350 kW frequency controlled electric motor driven tunnel thruster. The vessel is fitted with a DP2 Dynamic Positioning and Joystick control system.

Rescue facilities include a rescue zone fitted with rescue nets, 7.0 m Dacon Scoop mechanical rescue system, an 11.1 m Daughter Craft and a 8.75 m Fast Rescue Craft, both fitted in heave compensated single point lift davits and 4 remote controlled searchlights, one of which is a dual headed halogen/HMI white and UV light for night vision searches. Survivor facilities include a hospital treatment room, recovery area with 20 beds, survivor seating area, survivor toilets, showers and wash-down area. The vessel is fitted out for a crew of 15 persons in single berth en-suite cabins but with 7 of the cabins fitted with fold-down berths allowing a maximum of 22 crew to be carried. Crew facilities include fully air-conditioned galley, mess room, lounge, smoking room, gymnasium, sauna, conference/crew training room and ships office.

The vessel is also fitted with an external fire fighting system comprising a fire pump and two remote controlled fire monitors fitted at the bow each capable of 2000 lit/min giving a throwing distance of 60 m.