Bollinger completes conversions to dive support vessels

Offshore staff

LOCKPORT, Louisiana -- Bollinger Shipyards Inc. has performed conversions and modifications to three dive support vessels for EPIC Divers & Marine of Harvey, Louisiana.

The first of the three conversions was completed on the 67 x 13.7 x 6.4 m (220 x 45 x 21 ft) dynamically positioned (DP) Class II Dive and ROV support vesselEPIC Diver. While at Bollinger, the vessel renewed her regulatory status and documentation, received DP system upgrades with the installation of the L3 communications (Nautronix) NMS 6000 Duplex DP system, and took on new colors and a new name. The vessel is ABS Certified, DPII, and SOLAS.

The second and third vessel upgrades were done at Bollinger's Larose facility. TheEPIC Explorer underwent a full conversion from offshore supply vessel to a four-point, 305-m (1,000-ft) saturation dive support vessel, with upgraded accommodations for 48, newly installed 305-m (1,000-ft) six-person saturation dive system and associated dive support equipment, EBI 27-metric ton (30-ton) telescoping deck crane, 3-m (10�ft) diameter moonpool, updated electrical components, and renewed regulatory compliance meeting all USCG inspection criteria for subchapter I certification. The vessel measures 64 x 12 x 4.3 m (210 x 40 x 14 ft).

The third vessel, theEPIC Seahorse, completed a life extension program. All of the regulatory requirements were renewed, and the vessel was reconfigured for optimum use of the back deck area, with the dive support equipment repositioned below deck. The vessel measures 64 x 12 x 4.3 m (210 x 40 x 14 ft) and is capable of providing a full range of subsea project support as a four-point vessel, the company says.

"Bollinger took on these projects under severe industry conditions and at the end of the day delivered us three quality support vessels," says Julie Rodriguez, EPIC president.

4/13/2007