Guido Perla Designs New PSV

Published Feb 8, 2006 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

Guido Perla, Chairman of Guido Perla and Associates, announced its design of a new class of platform support vessels for Rigdon Marine Corporation, which is based in Houston, Texas. A total of ten vessels are scheduled to be built at Bollinger Shipyards' Lockport, Louisiana facility.

"The GPA 654 Platform Support Vessels will be a smaller version of the highly successful GPA 640 vessels designed by our firm for Rigdon Marine," said Guido Perla. "The diesel-electric propulsion configuration allows for increased tank cargo capacities far beyond other vessels of similar size. Our innovative hull-lines offer increased speed, fuel efficiency, and crew comfort for the arduous work conditions in the offshore industry."

"The proven vessel designs by Guido Perla and Associates has created value for our customers," said Larry Rigdon, President and CEO of Rigdon Marine Corporation. "The highly advanced technologies of the GPA 654 will revolutionize business on the shelf, while also allowing our company to meet the demands of energy production in the deepwater."

The GPA 654 vessels are 190-feet in length with a beam of 46-feet and 18-feet of depth. They are equipped with two stern-mounted, kort-nozzled, 360-degree azimuthing L-drives and one open propeller, fixed L-Drive. All three L-drives are fixed pitch and driven by 1130 hp @ 1040 rpm full range variable speed motors. A further enhancement to the diesel-electric drives is the technologically advanced dynamic positioning system and vessel management system that provides total redundancy, which is required for DP-2 certification. Consequently, if a vessel system fails, it can be bypassed without loss of control during cargo operations or while maintaining position at an offshore facility.

The GPA 654 vessel is capable of carrying 5,500 cubic feet of bulk material and 4,000 barrels of liquid mud in self-cleaning oval tanks. The vessels pumps deliver mud at 660 gallons per minute at a height of 196 feet above water. The 80-PSI air compressors can also deliver 50 metric tons of dry cement or barite per hour to the same height.

Guido Perla and Associates, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is recognized worldwide as a leading Naval Architect. In 2004, GPA opened a satellite office in Shanghai to help support its construction activities in Asia.