Reflex Marine, Seacor unveil new personnel transfer vessel

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK -- Reflex Marine and SEACOR Marine have joined to create a new marine personnel transfer vessel.

According to the companies, Seacor'sCheetah CrewZer high-speed DP2 catamaran will be the fastest crew supply vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. The vessel is capable of carrying 150 passengers at speeds up to 42 knots.

Seacor's objective for the CrewZer project was to find the safest method to move passengers on and off offshore platforms. Following review of transfer methods, Seacor selected Reflex Marine as its transfer partner. Reflex Marine has developed a nine-passenger Frog capsule personnel transfer safety system for the vessel.

Seacor's CrewZer will be unveiled at Galveston, Texas. on Feb. 12. Once piloted in the GoM, Seacor plans to market CrewZer vessels internationally.

"This project has been the first full-scale collaboration between a vessel operator and a transfer specialist," says Philip Strong, Reflex Marine's MD. "We are convinced that the combination of increased safety, added speed and comfort, will provide operators with what they want, and will indeed expect, in the new era."

02/04/2008