Finnish systems manufacturer Navis Engineering is supplying six DP2 dynamic positioning systems for the new series of fast support intervention vessels (FSIVs) under construction at Piriou's SEAS shipyard in Vietnam.
Built for French offshore marine services provider Bourbon, the first vessel in the six-ship series, the 'Bourbon Sirocco', was delivered towards the end of 2012 and is currently deployed in Angola. Her sister vessel, the 'Bourbon Shamal', was christened in early January.
Designed by Piriou Ingénierie and Mauric Design, the vessels incorporate a characteristic straight bow to improve personnel comfort, as well as meeting the needs of both the personnel transport market and offshore installation support sector.
According to Navis, the company's dynamic positioning system renders "exceptional manoeuvrability and increased operational safety," with the vessel's design combining a light aluminium hull with a water jet propulsion system, providing a maximum speed of 30 knots.
Each 10-person crew includes one master and a first mate, one DP officer and a junior DP officer, one chief engineer, a second engineer and four others.
"Navis was the first DP manufacturer to develop an effective DP solution for a water jet-propelled lightweight hull crew boat in 2002, and the number of similar projects completed since then amounts to 90," said Navis in a statement.
"While the United States has traditionally dominated the light crew boat technology field, Europe and Asia are showing the signs of taking the lead through Damen, Piriou and several other shipyards."
