Rigdon Marine delivers high-speed crewboat for ultra deepwater

Offshore staff

HOUSTON -- Rigdon Marine Corp. has added another new generation crewboat to its fleet with the delivery of the Rigdon Sailfish.

Midship Marine of Harvey, Louisiana, delivered the vessel, which was deployed under long-term contract in the US Gulf of Mexico immediately following a christening ceremony.

TheRigdon Sailfish is 176 ft x 32 ft x 13 ft (53.6 m x 9.8 m x 4 m) and is powered by four Cummins KTA 50 M3 engines, capable of 1,800 hp each. This output is channeled through four Hamilton HM811 waterjets. The crewboat also features a 200-hp bow thruster.

The vessel can carry 30,000 gal (113,562 L) of water, 34,500 gal (130,597 L) of fuel, and has an approved deck loading limit of 257.6 tons (233.7 metric tons).

"This vessel is ideal for difficult operations far from shore," says Nathan Guice, vice president FSV/crewboat operations. "TheRigdon Sailfish was built to ABS Fire Fighting Class I standards and incorporates an ABS classed DPS-1 station keeping system for enhanced staying power next to offshore structures. And it can transport up to 80 passengers. Finally, the vessel is fast, maintaining 33 knots on trials.

"The delivery of another very capable crewboat further enhances our ability to meet the demanding expectations of a special client base focused on high quality operations using the most capable equipment available."

Headquartered in Houston with operations in New Orleans, Louisiana, Rigdon Marine is a US-flagged vessel operator and provider of high-capacity platform support vessels, crewboats, and fast supply vessels primarily for the Gulf of Mexico market.

5/9/2007