VESSEL REVIEW | Tamimi 6 – UAE-built crewboat quartet enter service with Saudi operator High Seas Marine

Grandweld Shipyards in the UAE has completed its deliveries of four aluminium crewboats in a series ordered by High Seas Marine and Industrial Services (HSM) an offshore support vessel (OSV) operator based in the port city of Ras Tanura in eastern Saudi Arabia.

Grandweld said the four newbuilds were constructed and delivered to HSM over a period of 14 months. They will be used to serve HSM's oil and gas clients in the Gulf region with their initial work being in support of local company Saudi Aramco.

The builder said the construction of the 40- by eight-metre crewboats presented a challenge due to their design specifications being completely different from existing market requirements. These included the use of a different kind of block, a wider beam resulting in considerably greater deck area, increased depth, a propulsion system designed for high-deadweight operations, and the incorporation of four main engines instead of the normal two.

The somewhat unorthodox decision to install four engines was dictated by the need for extra reserve power that the owners expect will enable each crewboat to achieve optimum performance throughout its service life. High operating speeds will therefore be achieved with the engines operating at 85 instead of 100 per cent MCR to minimise wear.

In addition to boasting 360-degree visibility, the wheelhouse features individual display screens that will allow the bridge crew to monitor the performance and condition of the vessel's four 1,230kW main engines in real-time. This will guide them in making even slight adjustments to the vessel's operating profile as necessary while underway as well as indicate potential issues to ensure proper scheduling of needed maintenance.

HSM Managing Director Ibrahim Al Saeed remarked that, besides being capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 knots, the crewboats also needed to guarantee stability and comfort, especially for the passengers, to satisfy operating requirements set forth by Saudi Aramco. The vessels were thus designed to be able to operate even under the rough weather conditions typical in the offshore waters of the Persian Gulf. Each crewboat also boasts a deeper draught for improved stability in the high seas and a wave-piercing bow for more efficient sailings.

The passenger cabin has seating for 90 technicians and comes with plug-and-play features. Aft of the passenger cabin is a spacious deck that can be used to transport cargo totalling 60 tonnes. There is also a fast rescue boat with a dedicated deployment crane located just aft of the wheelhouse.

The HSM crewboats may also be utilised for limited firefighting duties thanks to the installation of a manually operated monitor just outside the wheelhouse.

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