Thor Alpha – Marine Support Vessel

The Thor Alpha was constructed in the Faroe Islands.

The Thor Alpha is operating under a medium-term charter to Fugro.

The Thor Alpha can act in a multi-purpose role in the oil industry.

There is accommodation for ten passengers, with sleeping seats for 34.

The construction contract has boosted the ship building industry in the Faroe Islands.

The M/V Thor Alpha is a marine support vessel was added to the Thor fleet in February 2008. The vessel was constructed at Skála in the Faroe Islands, and named at a ceremony on 23 February 2008. Thor Alpha then sailed to her home port Hósvík for further launch celebrations.

The ship was worked on by a number of contractors arranged by the Faroese Craftsman Association, including: Articon, El Service, Byggiservice, Demic, Radiobúðini, Dofita and Pomerania. The ship underwent the final fit of equipment at dry dock in Assens in Denmark.

The ship, which is chartered by Fugro, has been supporting operations for the oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico, since 2008.

Technical

The ship is a class DNV + 1A1 E0 SF support vessel and will transport crew, supplies and equipment for the oil industry. The ship has a gross tonnage of 1,051GT and a deadweight of 1,600t. The vessel has an overall length of 55.10m. The length between the perpendiculars is 50.56m; the moulded breadth is 12.50m; the depth of the boat deck is 8m; the depth of the main deck is 5.5m; and the draught is 4.85m.

The vessel can make 13kt at cruising speed. The vessel accommodation is for a six-person crew with berths for ten passengers and sleeping seats for 34. The ship carries 6 × 25 person life rafts (Viking 25 DK SOLAS), 104 life jackets (Merman 16 A SOLAS) and 54 immersion suits (Viking PS 5002 SOLAS).

The ship also carries a Norsafe MIDGET 530 MK II Diesel Jet Rescue Boat with a 72hp inboard engine which can carry six persons.

Power and propulsion

Power for the vessel is provided by Nordhavn GASI 16-07 4 × 440kW / 1,800 o/min – 3 × 440 Volt 60Hz. There are four main generators provide by Scania CV AB, Industrial & Marine Engines of DI 16 44M type generating 469kW each.

There is one emergency generator, a type 420, provided by Sisu Diesel Inc. The ship is propelled by two Rolls-Royce Aquamaster azimuth systems (type 105 CRP) providing power of 2 × 650kW.

In addition, the manoeuvring thrusters are pump jet SPJ 82 SD with an output of 360kW and a thrust of 2.5t, supplied by Schottel GmbH. The ship can carry 992m³ of heavy fuel, 556 m³ of diesel oil, 69m³ of fresh water and can carry 100t of deck cargo on a 320m² area. There is a 5t ABAS deck crane (1.8m to 16m) to handle cargo.

Equipment

The ship’s navigation equipment includes Furuno FA-150 AIS Transceiver, Furuno GP-150 GPS-Professional navigator, MaxSea Commander software, MaxSea tracking-modul for, Arpa- og AIS-traget and a computer for the MaxSea (radar systems are FAR-2137S/IMO S-band 30kW with 12ft antenna and FAR-2117/IMO X-band 12 kW with 6.5ft antenna).

The radio equipment includes Telular SX5D gsm-phone with telefax and an Icom portable UHF-transceiver; Furuno FS-1570 150W MF/HF SSB Transceiver; Furuno FM-8800S VHF-DSC Transceiver; Radio Ocean RO 4700 VHF Transceiver; Furuno NX-700-B Navtex Receiver, Furuno Felcom-15 Inmarsat-C, SSAS UPG for Furuno Felcom-15; McMurdo E-5-A EPIRB; McMurdo E-5-M EPIRB; McMurdo G4 SART; and a McMurdo R-2 portable GMDSS VHF Transceiver. In addition the ship-wide address and sound system is a Vingtor VSS-111 Sound Signal Reception System.

Deck equipment includes a 1.5t rope winch, a 4 x 5t capstan winch, two anchor winches, and a 30t SWL towing hook.