Rigdon Completes DP-2 PSV Building Program

Published Sep 15, 2005 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

Larry Rigdon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rigdon Marine, announced today that the tenth and final contracted GPA 640 platform support vessel was delivered by Bender Shipyard & Repair Co., Inc. of Mobile, Alabama. Mrs. Debbi H. Ducote christened the M/V ESPLANADE before it was immediately deployed under contract to a major oil company in the Gulf of Mexico. Debbi is the wife of James A. Ducote, Jr., Compliance Coordinator in the Technical Services Department of Rigdon Marine.

"The christening of our tenth and final GPA 640 is a very proud moment for every employee of the company that has worked so tirelessly to ensure the smooth delivery of each vessel to our customers," said Larry Rigdon. "Today, our clients are assured that one of the finest and most technologically advanced platform support vessel fleets in the industry is available to service their operational requirements. Furthermore, it goes without saying, that we greatly appreciate the effort and commitment to quality demonstrated by Guido Perla and Associates in Seattle, Washington and Bender Shipyards in Mobile, Alabama in delivering these vessels."

The GPA 640 vessels are 210 feet by 54 feet by 19 feet diesel-electric PSVs with Dynamic Positioning Class 2 (DP-2) certification and a modern streamline hull design for fuel efficiency with top speeds of 13 knots fully loaded and 15 knots in light conditions. The cargo capacity of these vessels has also been increased due to the space saving diesel-electric engine room. These vessels are capable of carrying 7,135 cubic feet of bulk material and 5,150 barrels of liquid mud in self-cleaning oval tanks. The vessels' two pumps can deliver mud to a height of 196 feet above water. Additionally, the two 80-PSI air compressors can deliver 50 metric tons of dry cement or barite per hour to the same height.

The M/V ESPLANADE joins its sister fleet, which consists of the M/V ORLEANS, M/V BOURBON, M/V ROYAL, M/V CHARTRES, M/V IBERVILLE, M/V BIENVILLE, M/V CONTI, M/V ST. LOUIS, and M/V TOULOUSE.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with operations in New Orleans, Louisiana, Rigdon Marine is a U.S. flagged vessel operator and provider of high capacity platform support vessels in the Gulf of Mexico.

For more information on Rigdon Marine, you may visit their website at, http://www.rigdonmarine.com