Singapore shipbuilder Strategic Marine has made a foray into the fast-growing Thai crew boat market, with the first of two aluminium Gen 4 Fast Crew Boats (FCBs) delivered to offshore services provider Truth Maritime Services (TMS).
The latest generation of FCBs have proved to be a popular choice among operators, with increasing demands and orders for new, more efficient and capable vessels. TMS is known for operating crew boats and has been expanding, with a current fleet of 13 crew boats that are used for ferrying offshore personnel and cargo to support offshore petroleum both exploration and production and on-going maintenance of platforms in the region. In addition, TMS operates accommodation work barges located near the rigs for ease of offshore personnel movement, minimising transfer times at sea.
The two newbuild contracts were signed in 2023 and the delivery of the advanced design 42m vessels will boost TMS’s fleet servicing the Southeast Asia offshore petroleum exploration and production market, which is seen as a growing opportunity.
Chairman of Prima Marine Group, Khun Bowon Vongsinudom, said: “To celebrate the completion of the new hybrid crew boat, I really believe it will satisfy our clients.”
Strategic Marine launched the 42m Gen 4 FCB design in collaboration with Southerly Designs recently and the vessel comes with an efficient new hull form and Z-bow which improves seakeeping and requires less power for the same speed and deadweight tonnage, reducing fuel consumption and lowering emissions whilst providing cargo and passenger carrying capability.
Meanwhile, the vessel’s GHG emissions will be significantly reduced through using the Energy Saving System onboard, Strategic Marine’s new energy saving solution designed in collaboration with the client. The hybrid solution uses an energy storage system to capture and harnesses energy generated by the main engines for various applications on the vessel.
Strategic Marine CEO Chan Eng Yew said: “We are delighted to see the first of our Gen 4 Fast Crew Boats entering the growing Thai market, highlighting our industry leading technology, innovative designs and strong reputation for quality in the competitive Southeast Asian market.”
The vessels feature a newly optimised passenger layout with capacity for up to 100 offshore workers in The strengthened deck provides the option for a walk-to-work system to be installed, with a motion-compensated gangway. This technology can be combined with a gyro-stabiliser adding further stability for safe and smooth transfers even in adverse weather conditions. The vessels are expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2024.
Image: Strategic Marine’s new Gen 4 crewboat (credit: Strategic Marine/Helix PR)
