Latest Shipbuilding Contracts for Guido Perla & Associates
Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA) Signs Contract for Petrobras Vessels
Naval Architecture firm Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA) signed a contract with the Brazilian Shipyard Detroit Brasil Ltda., a subsidiary of Detroit Chile, to deliver the Basic/Class Design and Detailed / Construction Engineering for four PSV 4500. Throughout the design and engineering process, GPA worked closely with the shipyard to meet all of Petrobras’ requirements for these vessels, which will be owned and operated by Brazilian-based Starnav. During the construction process, GPA will also provide onsite supervision in Itajai, Brazil, at Detroit Brasil Ltda. Construction for the first vessel commenced in early October 2010.
To fulfil Petrobras’ requirements for the 4500 PSV, GPA has developed a modern look vessel, the GPA 688SC PSV, with a special deckhouse arrangement. This design has the capability to be transformed into the PSV 3000 (GPA 675 PSV), another vessel specified by Petrobras, by changing the midbody section. This characteristic is extremely valuable for the shipyard as it offers a high degree of flexibility and gives the opportunity to build in series.
The GPA 688 SC PSV, measuring 90.00 meters in overall length, has a deadweight capacity of 4500 MT, thus the designation of the vessel. The vessels will be outfitted with tanks capable of carrying oil-based mud (1,450 m³), water-based mud (590 m³), brine (1,494 m³) and dry bulk (340 m³).
The vessels will be optimally equipped for all conditions with a diesel-electric propulsion system, consisting of MTU engines, propulsors by Schottel and the Integrated Engine Control Room (ECR) by EPD.
Running on four MTU generators rated for 1,845 kW and one MTU emergency generator rated for 176 kW, GPA sees several benefits for the operator as these generators provide a powerful and compact, robust and quiet solution. They also offer the highest cost-effectiveness and profitability due to low consumption values, long maintenance intervals, and a low-maintenance engine design.
This propulsion configuration is optimized by combining it with two azimuthing drives combi drives rated for 2,500 kW and two tunnel thrusters rated for 900 kW delivered by SCHOTTEL.
The Engine Control Room (ECR) provided by EPD is a completely pre-tested, pre-manufactured container and designed as an integral art of the ship’s structure. It allows for the equipment to be installed and tested in a controlled environment. During construction, the ECR is simply lowered onto the vessel, secured and connected to power and control cables externally. This proven approach, first brought to market in 2009 on the GPA-designed Bourbon Liberties offshore vessel, greatly reduces the possibility of equipment damage while in shipyard.
The GPA 688 PSVs, providing accommodations for 30 crew members, will bear the class notation ABS, +DPS-2, +A1, Offshore Support Vessel, Circle E, +AMS and +ACCU.
“We are excited to soon see several vessels of our design operate for Petrobras, Latin America’s largest company and a world leader in the development of advanced technology from deep-water and ultra-deep water oil production. Our goal at GPA, as it is with each vessel design, was to be compliant with Petrobras’ needs and requirements while offering a cost-competitive solution and we believe we have reached that goal. Since entering the offshore industry almost 10 years ago, GPA has delivered vessel designs based on simplified hullforms and other construction methods, making each vessel more cost-effective without jeopardizing quality or performance. Almost 140 delivered vessels later, we continue to break into new markets with our designs and we are proud to be able to compete with much larger naval architecture and engineering firms worldwide,” says Paulina Alvarez, General Manager of GPA’s subsidiary in Santiago, Chile.
The vessels are under an 8-year contract for Petrobras and will be operating in the Campos Basin fields in Brasil. Delivery for the first GPA 688 PSV is expected in October 2012 while the entire series is expected to be completed in October 2013.
GPA Awarded Contract for 2 OSRVs By Astromaritima
In 2010, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering firm Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA) signed a contract with Brazilian shipyard Estaleiro Ilha S.A. (Eisa) for one GPA 462-10 OSRV, designed specifically to Petrobras requirements (OSRV 750-10). Later on, an order for an additional OSRV followed. Both vessels are currently under construction at EISA for the Brazilian offshore operator Astromaritima Navegacao S/A.
The 64-meter vessels are outfitted with a diesel-electric propulsion system comprised of Caterpillar and Berg Propulsion equipment. The system consists of two azimuthing drives, each rated for 1,700kW, and two bow thrusters, each rated for 448kW on the first vessel and approximately 600kW on the second vessel. The propulsors and bow thrusters will run on three Caterpillar generator sets each rated for 1,700kW. The electrical components of the propulsion system will be provided by WEG.
The use of a diesel-electric propulsion system creates valuable flexibilities, allowing for the maximization of cargo carrying capacities below deck, as the engine room is located above the main deck. This concept, pioneered by GPA several years ago, has been implemented on over 100 GPA-designed offshore vessels. Besides fresh water tanks (315 m³) permanent fuel oil tanks (489 m³) and day oil tanks (33.3 m³), these OSRVs will be capable of transporting a maximum of 800 m³ of recovered oil.
GPA’s designs are based on well-proven single-curvature hullforms and other construction methods simplifying the building process, such as flanged plate framing and transverse framing, which allowed GPA to offer a cost-effective solution to the highly competitive Brazilian market. “Well-designed hard-chined, single-curvature hulls can result in efficient operations and fuel savings. All of our offshore vessel designs, by now over 140 vessels in service or under construction, are based on these methods and have been extremely beneficial for operators worldwide,” says Paulina Alvarez, General Manager of GPA Latin America.
The GPA 462-10 OSRV, providing accommodations for 16 crew members and 6 passengers, will bear the class notation ABS +A1 Oil Recovery Vessel Class 1, +AMS, +DPS-1, FiFi 1, Enviro, Circle E.
These vessels, the first OSRVs GPA has designed for the offshore market, will be under an 8-year contract for Petrobras, operating in the Campos Basin fields in Brasil. “The recent event in the Gulf of Mexico once again demonstrated that the industry needs to be prepared. When risk turns to reality, the companies involved have to be capable of handling such spills. As a company that highly values environmentally friendly operations, GPA is very pleased to be involved in a project that would have a positive impact in case of another incident,” concludes Guido Perla, Chairman of GPA.
Two GPA 675 PSVs Under Construction For Astromaritima
In 2011, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering firm Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA) signed a contract with Brazilian shipyard EISA. Estaleiro Ilha for two GPA 675 PSV designed specifically to Petrobras requirements (PSV 3000). Both vessels are currently under construction at EISA for the Brazilian offshore operator Astromaritima Navegacao S/A.
The vessels are outfitted with a diesel-electric propulsion system comprised of equipment by Berg Propulsion and Caterpillar. The system consists of two azimuthing drives, each rated for 2,500kW and two bow thrusters, each rated for 750kW. The propulsors, bow thrusters and other electrical consumers will run on four Caterpillar generators each rated for 1,825kW and an emergency generator rated for 190kW. The electrical components of the propulsion system will be provided by WEG. The GPA 675 PSV has an overall length of 76.80 meters, a beam of 19.00 meters, and a maximum draft of 6.00 meters.
The use of a diesel-electric propulsion system creates valuable flexibilities, allowing for the maximization of cargo carrying capacities below deck, as the engine room is located above the main deck, a concept pioneered by GPA several years ago. The cargo tank equipment will be supplied by Van Aalst Marine & Offshore.
The GPA 675 PSV, providing accommodations for 22 crew members and passengers, will bear the class notation ABS, +A1, Offshore Support Vessel, +AMS, +DPS-2, Circle E and +ES. These vessels year are under an 8-year contract for Petrobras, operating in the Campos Basin fields in Brasil.
To offer a cost-effective solution to the rapidly growing and highly competitive Brazilian market, GPA’s designs are based on well-proven, single-curvature hullforms and other construction methods simplifying the building process, such as flanged plate framing and transverse framing. GPA has had great success with these methods that have become the standard not just for offshore designs but for most vessel types GPA designs.
In recent years, GPA extensively focused on building relationships with local operators and shipyards in Latin America and created a direct presence with subsidiaries in Chile and Brazil. These subsidiaries execute multiple functions, which encompass providing naval architecture support to the GPA headquarters in Seattle, working in conjunction with the GPA design and engineering staff, as well as providing technical assistance, and Project and Contract Management directly to local shipyards, such as EISA, that are currently constructing GPA designs. These activities reinforce GPA’s approach of direct communication and close working relationships throughout the development and construction process.
“The local market has been developing very attractive projects that we want to take part in, and therefore, we need to be prepared to support and serve our clients during the complete execution of the projects,” says Paulina Alvarez, Business Manager of Guido Perla Latin America in Chile (GPLA). “A local presence facilitates keeping a close liaison with clients after launch and delivery with respect to the operation and maintenance of each vessel,” says Ms. Alvarez. “One of our main assets and differentiation points is that GPA has always developed special solutions that suit each client’s needs, therefore it is of advantage for us to be closer and more accessible to our clients in order to get a better understanding of their situation, needs and requirements.”