Strategic Marine to build 24-metre survey ship for Odyssey Group

The aluminium-made ship will be finished by the last quarter.

Singapore-based Strategic Marine (S) Pte Ltd. has won a contract to build a 24-metre survey vessel for Odyssey Group, designed for marine exploration, research, transport, and port operations in Western Australia’s northwest shelf.

With a top speed of 16 knots or about 30 kilometres per hour, the ship’s key feature will be its endurance, Hans Randklev, general manager for commercial at Strategic Marine, told Marine & Industrial Report.

“It can carry 15,000 litres of fuel, giving it a range of roughly 5,556 to 7,408 kilometres, depending on sea conditions and the load on board,” he said in a Microsoft Teams interview.

The ship will be powered by two C18 diesel engines from US manufacturer Caterpillar, Inc. because they suit the northwest shelf’s high temperature and strong winds. “The C18 is known for its robust construction, long service life, and efficient cooling system.”

The vessel, expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, will be mainly made of aluminium, which is much lighter than steel, aiding fuel efficiency and sustainability.

“When the ship reaches the end of its life, it can be scrapped, unlike a fibreglass vessel, which isn’t as readily recyclable,” Randklev added.

The vessel is expected to operate as far as 370 kilometres offshore with 10 passengers, or carry 35 passengers for inshore operations,

The ship has a gyro stabiliser that will help keep it steady in rough seas, ensuring more accurate underwater surveys, safer journeys and lower fuel consumption, whilst reducing the number of aborted missions.

Whilst the tech has existed for decades, it has only become commercially available for smaller vessels in the past four years, Randklev said.

He said one of the key challenges in building the vessel lies not in engineering but in regulatory compliance, particularly with Australia’s requirement of zero traces of asbestos on vessels.

“We will take some material samples and use an Australian-accredited laboratory to do product material assessments, checking for any trace of asbestos in the materials,” he added.

Strategic Marine is coordinating with the designer, surveyor, and client through online meetings and site visits throughout the project period. “It’s all about communication at this stage, and so far, it’s going well,” Randklev said.