Swire Pacific Celebrates the Naming of its Second L Class Vessel, Pacific Legacy in Japan

"The delivery of Pacific Legacy in Japan continues our successful collaboration with JMU. The L Class series are very high quality vessels, designed for fuel efficiency and with a specification aligned to the exacting requirements of our clients around the world," says Managing Director of SPO, Mr Neil Glenn.

This is the second of a series of four L Class vessels that SPO has commissioned JMU to build. The first vessel, Pacific Leader, is currently operating in Africa. The remaining two vessels, Pacific Legend and Pacific Liberty, will be delivered over the next six months.

"JMU is proud to work with SPO, a trusted leader in the oil and gas industry. Both SPO and JMU pride ourselves on achieving the highest levels of safety, reliability and quality for our products. We are confident that this new platform supply vessel, Pacific Legacy, will be well sought after by industry players and join its sister vessel Pacific Leader in delivering reliable service to its clients once it enters into service," says Managing Officer of JMU, Mr Masaaki Kenko.

The L Class vessels (5,258 DWT), with the fuel-saving design, consisting of newly developed fuel efficient propulsion pods, a four-engine diesel electric power plant, large cargo carrying capacity and bulk cargo system, makes them well suited for supply duties in deep water environments.

The bulbous bow design takes into consideration varying operating speed, draughts and sea states that Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) typically operate in and is designed to maximise its effectiveness over a wide range rather than a tuned design point. The hull is designed for a 7.5-year window between Class required mandatory dockings and propulsion and tunnel thrusters have been selected for their ability to be changed out when the vessel is afloat. The main deck has a clear deck space of 912 square metres.

There are three unique features for high capacity and flexible cargo systems. The Cargomaxx bulk system allows for the carriage of dry and wet bulk cargoes in five separate tanks, using a pressure vacuum system to load and unload the cargo and has a product weighing system to accurately measure a product delivered as an individual parcel or as an aggregated amount over a period of time. Being IBC Compliant, the vessel can carry up to 1800 cubic metres of Noxious Liquid Substance and can accommodate four lengths of drill pipe or casing with safe access for the deck crew. The cargo discharge manifold is ergonomically designed for ease of connection and to ensure safe hose deployment overboard.

The vessel’s tank layout has been arranged to make provisions for future upgrade to carry low flash point liquids to DNV LFL* class notation to the capacity of approximately 180 cubic metres.

The propulsion system features a computerised power management system that is programmable to ensure optimisation of diesel engine load and fuel consumption. The FiFi 1, DPII vessels are also SPS Compliant and Clean Class. The fire-fighting pump is independently driven using a variable speed electric motor to improve operating efficiency through a quick start-up time and reliability through a direct drive system. The vessel is equipped with 3 x 999 Kw variable speed, controllable pitch tunnel thrusters and fitted with SOLAS Lifeboats.

Today, SPO owns and operates a diverse fleet of 87 offshore support vessels, including anchor handling tug supply vessels, platform supply vessels, ice-breaking supply vessels, anchor handling tugs, seismic survey vessels, wind-farm installation vessels, accommodation work barges and multi-purpose offshore vessels. As part of its fleet expansion plan, SPO aims to have 100 vessels by the end of 2015.

This article was originally published on Marine & Industrial Report newspaper Vol 36  No.4  Issue last August 31, 2014.