Building for the Market
Cummins Vessel Reference #723
A market advantage for SEACOR Marine, as one of the largest players in the offshore marine services industry, is that they continue to build nimble vessels suited to a wide range of markets. SEACOR has long been noted for innovative vessels, ranging from mono-hulls to catamarans. Meeting the market demand for mid-size fast supply boats, their Fast Support Vessels (FSVs) range from 130 to 200 feet and are capable of speeds between 25 and 35 knots. The vessels have enhanced cargo carrying capacity, DP-2, firefighting equipment and ride control systems for greater passenger comfort and performance.
Scheduled for a delivery in May of 2014, the first of two 180 by 30-foot FSVs is currently under construction at Neuville Boat Works in New Iberia Louisiana. These are hefty vessels with a cargo capacity of 195 long tons (196.1 Mt.) on 2,514 square feet (234.1 sq meters) of clear deck space. Seating will be provided for up to 83 passengers.
They are being built at Neuville Brothers Boatworks that could be considered a niche builder. Owned by Errol and Kerry Neuville, the yard, founded by their father in 1969, stays small while meeting SEACOR’s exacting standards. “We have only 16 regular employees,” says Kerry Neuville, “and we subcontract another 25 people for jobs like sand-blasting, painting, air conditioning, interior carpentry, and upholstery.”
Neuville explained that the 180-footer currently under construction at the yard will be finished in May 2014. They will start the second in March 2014 and spend the next 18 or 19 months building that. With this approach they will keep their workforce employed right through to mid-2015. This prevents the boom and bust cycle that can afflict yards that grow too fast.
Propulsion for each of the two big vessels will be provided by four Cummins QSK50-M diesels each developing 1800 HP at 1800 RPM for a total of 7200 HP driving the four Hamilton HT811 jets through Twin Disc gears with 2.58:1 ratios. A pair of Cummins QSM11-powered 290 kW generators will provide auxiliary power. The boats will be capable of 30 knots at 50 tons deadweight, 25 knots at 130 DWT and 21 knots at 180 DWT.
Tank capacities include 2,906 US gallons (11 cubic meters) of potable water, 30,270 US gallons (114.6 m3) of drill/fresh water and 36,168 USG (136.9 m3) of fuel oil. Transfer rates for both fuel or drill water will be 150 gallons per minute at 160 feet (34 m3/hr. @ 49 meters).
The new vessels will be classed ABS +A1 HSC Crewboat +AMS + DPS-2.
October, 2013 photo of Kerry Neuville with the first 180-footer at the yard in New Iberia,
LA by Haig-Brown courtesy of Cummins Marine
February 2014 photo of the first of the 180-footers by Neuville Brothers Boatworks
For further information:
Joe McCall
Senior Project Manager
SEACOR Marine LLC
7720 Gulf Highway,
Lake Charles, LA70607
Phone: 337 656 4597
E-mail: jmccall@ckor.com
Kerry Neuville or Don Bordelon
Neuville Boat Works,
6402 Daspit Rd.
New Iberia, LA70560
Phone: 337 229 6507
E-mail: NBWboats@aol.com
Red Cunningham
Marine Territory Sales Manager
Cummins Mid-South Inc.
P.O. Box 1229
Hwy. 90 East
Amelia, LA 70340
Phone: 985 631 0576
E-mail: david.s.Cunningham@cummins.com
Alan Haig-Brown
Over 30 years as an author for global commercial marine and fishing publications backed with hands-on experience on commercial fishing boats and coastal freighters makes Alan Haig-Brown uniquely qualified to provide vessel reference articles for Cummins Marine. You can find him in shipyards around the world, and on his own website, www.haig-brown.com.
