AUGUST 9, 2013 — Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc.'s Nelson Street facility in Panama City, FL, this week launched Bravante VI, the second of five platform supply vessels being built for Brazil's Bravante Group. The first vessel in the series, Bravante V, was launched in March and is set to be delivered later this month.

The 284 ft x 60 ft x 24 ft 6 in Bravante vessels are ABS A-1+, SOLAS/IMO, FFV-1, DPS-2, AC diesel-electric powered, twin propulsion PSVs.

They each have four Cummins 16-cylinder turbo-charged IMO Tier II diesel generator engines each rated at 1,825 kW at 1,800 rpm. Cummins also providea the four Marathon Model 744 690 VAC main generators. Main propulsion power is provided by two 690 VAC electric motors driving two Schottel Combi-Drive single fixed pitch propellers with nozzles rated at 2,500 kW at 750 rpm each for a total of 6,700 hp. Schottel also provides two STT 4 fixed pitch reversing tunnel thrusters rated at 1,180 kW at 1,170 rpm, each with direct coupled Hyundai 690 VAC electric motors.

GE Energy provides the complete system integrated diesel electric package, including the thruster drives, motors, control systems, DP system, switchboards, motor control centers, automation and navigation/ communication electronics.

These vessels are capable of a maximum speed of 14 knots with a cruising speed of 12 knots.

The fully integrated bridge is arranged for increased visibility and features the latest technology in navigation, communication equipment.

Sleeping accommodations comprise four four-man staterooms, five two-man staterooms and three one-man staterooms,

The Bravante VI provides the following capacities:

Cargo Fuel Oil Capacity: 442,675 USG (1,600 m3)
Fuel Oil Day-tanks 62,608 USG (237 m3)
Potable Water Capacity: 26,575 USG
Drill Water/Ballast Capacity: 513,550 USG (1,944 m3)
Brine/Additional Drill Water Capacity: 5,030 bbls. (800 m3)
Liquid Mud/Fuel Oil Capacity: 5,030 bbls. (800 m3)
Dry-bulk Mud: 8,631 cu ft. (244 m3)
Clear Deck Area: 9,365 sqft. (870 m2)

Firefighting Vessel: ABS+ FFV-1, 2 x 5,284 GPM monitors w/deluge system

All five vessels under contract for Bravante are Marshall Islands Flag, IMO/SOLAS, ABS classed + A1, Offshore Support Vessel Ocean Service, Loadline, + AMS, + ACCU, + Circle E, with additional ABS Class notations UWILD, ENVIRO, + DPS-2.  Starting with the BRAVANTE VI and including the remaining three vessels, the series will carry the added Class notation ABS + FFV-1.

STX Canada Marine provided the design which is the basis for the successful Eastern Shipbuilding "Tiger Shark Class" series. Seven other offshore supply vessels in this series have been delivered to Eastern's clients and have already proven themselves in worldwide operations.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group is currently constructing a total of nineteen offshore supply vessels of similar size and complexity for customers in the United States and in Brazil.

Eastern says that these contracts will maintain its reputation as the largest OSV/PSV and MPSV new construction shipyard in the United States. Eastern currently has over 1,500 employees, and expects to add more than 200 new employees in all shipbuilding trades to fulfill future contracts.