Offshore staff
HOUSTON– GE’s Marine Solutions business has signed a cooperation agreement with Houston-based engineering consulting, project and construction management company Zentech Inc.
This collaboration will see the two companies provide advanced vessels including self-elevating lift boats, drillships, and semisubmersibles. Zentech will contribute with its knowledge and experience in design, while GE will provide smart and advanced engineering expertise and technology in power generation, propulsion, and control.
The companies said that they are working to “meet customer demands for greater levels of coherence in vessel and system design while simultaneously striving to reduce the cost of construction and overall cost of ownership.”
The long-term deal has already landed a first implementation contract. GE will deliver its electric power and propulsion, dynamic positioning, and vessel control system solutions forZentech’s Z-210, currently under construction at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in China.
The Z-210 is a self-propelled, self-elevating, DP-2 capable, ABS class, high-temperature (55°C) rated, four-legged mobile offshore unit capable of operating in water depths of up to 280 ft (85 m).
Scheduled for delivery in 2018, the Z-210 addresses the growing needs for lift boats in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Far East markets where the production, well intervention, and platform support activities require the capability for a range of water depths such as 13 ft (nearly 4 m) to 280 ft (85 m).
In addition, SEACOR Marine LLC’s platform supply vesselOlmeca has completed sea trial in Bayou Le Batre, Alabama, with GE’s SeaStream dynamic positioning (DP) system onboard.
According to GE, the sophistication and complexity of DP systems have evolved to the point that operators may have become preoccupied with managing the computer rather than managing the primary task of controlling the ship. In response to this potential risk, the company said that SeaStream’s interface was designed with the intent that operators can rapidly familiarize themselves with the system.
The SeaStream DP system’s interface has been developed collaboratively by GE’s DP specialists, together with its software center of excellence, and followed extensive consultation with users at all levels.
The company also said it upgraded its existing marine services training centers and established new ones around the world.
09/07/2016
