SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 — Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc, Panama City, FL, this month launched the HOS Riverbend (H204) for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC.  

Those attending the launching ceremonies at Eastern's Allanton shipyard included Hornbeck Offshore  Executive VP & COO Carl Annessa and William "Bill" Krewsky, Director of Engineering and Project Management.

The HOS Riverbend is the fourth in a series of four HOSMAX 300 Offshore Support Vessels ordered from Eastern. The first, HOS Red Dawn, was delivered in June. The second, HOS Red Rock, was launched in April and the third, HOS Renaissance, in June. Both the HOS Red Rock and HOS Renaissance are currently at Eastern completing final outfitting, regulatory and DP-2 trials.  Delivery of the HOS Red Rock is scheduled for September 2013.

In addition to the HOSMAX 300 vessels, Eastern is also building six somewhat larger HOSMAX 310 vessels for HOS. Additionally, HOS has contracted with Eastern for two HOSMAX 310ES Multi-Purpose Supply Vessels (MPSV’s) with accommodations for 73 persons, a 250 MT subsea crane, moon pool, helideck and two ROV/LARS units.

The 292 ft x 64 ft x 24 ft 6 in HOSMAX 300 vessels offer the following capacities:

Total fuel oil capacity:        241,141 USG
Fuel oil day-tanks            20,190 USG
Drill water/ballast capacity:    562,822 USG
Potable water capacity:        57,494 USG
Liquid mud capacity:        20,846 bbls. (10) tanks
Dry-bulk mud:            14,347 cu.ft. (7) tanks
Methanol capacity                       1,605  bbls. (2) tanks
Clear deck area:            10,585 sq.ft.

The HOSMAX 300 series are diesel-electric powered, twin Z-drive vessels with four Caterpillar 3516C 16-cylinder turbo-charged Tier III diesel generator engines each rated at 1,825 kW at 1,800 rpm.  Main propulsion power is provided by two GE Energy furnished Hyundai 2,500 kW 690VAC electric motors driving two Schottel SRP 2020 FP Z-drives with nozzles, rated at 2,500 kW at 1,025 rpm each for a total of 6,704 Hp.  Schottel also provides two STT 4 fixed pitch tunnel thrusters rated at 1,180 kW at 1,170 rpm, each with direct coupled Hyundai 690VAC electric motors.  

GE Energy Power Conversions provides the complete system integrated diesel electric package, including the propulsion and 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.  

The six 302 ft x 64 ft x 26 ft HOSMAX 310 vessels have below-deck capacities of 285,649 gals of diesel fuel, 609,227 gals of drill/ballast water, 21,509 barrels of liquid mud, 14,347 cubic foot of dry-bulk mud, 2,212 barrels of methanol and 62,538 gals of potable water.

All ten of the HOSMAX Offshore Supply Vessels contracted at Eastern are USCG, ABS Classed + A1, Offshore Support Vessel and Ocean Service, Loadline, + AMS, + AMS,  + ACCU, + Circle E, + DPS-2 with additional ABS Class notations UWILD, ENVIRO, FFV-1 and certified under SOLAS/IMO.

The two HOSMAX 310ES Multi-Purpose Platform Supply Vessels are to be ABS Classed Hull and Machinery, Oceans Service and reviewed for the United States Coast Guard under the Alternate Compliance Program (ACP 2-95) with the following Class Notations, + A1, + AMS, +  ACCU, + DPS-2, UWILD, FFV-1, + Circle E, Offshore Support Vessel (HNLS, HDC, HLC), GP, RRDA, HELIDK, ENVIRO, CRC, SPS (Special Purpose Ship), and certified under SOLAS/IMO.