Offshore staff
HOUSTON-- J. Ray McDermott is upgrading its derrick/pipelay barge DB50 by adding new thrusters and increasing its electrical power supply.
The DB50 will have its entire power plant replaced with new diesel-engine generator sets totaling 19.2 megawatts, new switchboards, and a state-of-the-art power management/alarm system, the company says. The vessel’s existing four 2.4 megawatt controlled pitch thrusters will be replaced with six new 2.4 megawatt fixed pitch/variable AC drive thrusters, which will provide 44 tons (40 metric tons) of thrust each. In addition, the freshwater and saltwater cooling system and the supply/exhaust ventilation system will be upgraded in both engine and thruster machinery spaces. The dynamic positioning control system was upgraded in 2007 with new hardware.
DB50 is J. Ray’s Gulf of Mexico premier heavy-lift and pipelay vessel. It is capable of lifting loads up to 4,400 tons (3,991 metric tons), and laying pipe through Reel-Lay and J-Lay up to 20-in. (51-cm) in diameter, in more than 9,000 ft (2,743 m) of water.
“This investment in DB50 will significantly increase the station-keeping capability of the vessel, allowing it to operate in more severe weather conditions and the two additional thrusters will greatly increase redundancy,” says John Nesser, J. Ray’s executive VP and COO. “These improvements, along with other modifications to ship’s systems over the three-year upgrade program will add tremendous value to the vessel’s capabilities, which will ultimately prove beneficial to our customers’ deepwater projects.”
07/30/2009
