MARINE PROPULSION
BY LARRY PEARSON
Freshly converted from a pipe
carrier/OSV, the Ocean Carrier is
about to depart for an assign-
ment in Mexico. Practically
every piece of equipment and
all systems were either replaced
or rebuilt.
Ocean Carrier: New Name,
New Parts, New Purpose
Conversions of vessels from one mission to another are often technically
intensive projects. Such was the case of
85 m long North Sea pipe carrier/
offshore supply vessel (OSV), Star
Arcturus, built by Smith Dock in the
United Kingdom. This vessel was purchased by Stabbert Maritime of Seattle,
Washington, U.S.A., for conversion to a
deepwater construction ship. Given the
high demand for ships of this nature,
the Ocean Carrier immediately went on
a project in Mexico.
“The year-long project was carried
out in a satellite yard in the Port of
Houston,” said Daniel Stabbert, marketing and project manager of Stabbert
Maritime. “To my knowledge, no other
Seattle facility has undertaken a DPII
installation and retrofit of a vessel of
this scope,” Stabbert added.
Stabbert Maritime sent their Seattle
personnel to Houston, Texas, U.S.A., to
oversee the construction. “This was
vitally important for us as all of our ves-
sels are conversions, so our men are
experts in this field,” Stabbert noted.
Several new diesel engines were added to the power lineup. Three Caterpillar 3516 engines, each rated at
1500 k W, power the dynamic positioning (DP) system, including two
bow thrusters and two stern thrusters.
Both bow thrusters are electronically
driven White Gill 820.6 kW units.
The stern thrusters are Schottel units
rated at 746 kW each, also driven by
electric motors.
Additional diesel power onboard
includes a Caterpillar C- 18 rated at 425
k W for use as a hotel/harbor generator
and a Caterpillar 3306 emergency gen-set rated at 120 k W. The DPII system is
continued on page 60
Larry Pearson is a freelance writer based in
Kenner, Lousiana, U.S.A.
A part of the engine room
on the Ocean Carrier. Shown
is the area holding the three
Caterpillar 3516 engines that
generate electrical power
for the bow thrusters and
stern thrusters.
