Norway-based Rapp Marine has been contracted by Gulf Island Shipyard to equip the US’ Oregon State University’s (OSU) new multi-mission regional class research vessel (RCRV).
The 193ft-long, 41ft-wide vessel is currently under construction at Gulf Island Shipyard in Houma, Louisiana, US.
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Rapp Marine will act as the overboard handling system single-source vendor (OHS SSV) for the vessel as part of the agreement.
The deal also includes options for two additional vessels.
Rapp Marine is also set to install the systems, which are required for the RCRV’s science mission and cargo handling operations.
The vessel’s overboard handling systems will feature oceanographic winch and hydrographic winch systems, which will supply a number of tension members to the stern’s A-frame, main crane and overboard handling apparatus.
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By GlobalDataIts portable winch is also expected to deliver the tension member used with the portable side A-frame and portable crane.
The oceanographic winch system will be primarily be used for towing scientific devices, coring and deploying / recovering large surface buoys or heavy packages on the seafloor, while the hydrographic winch mechanism will perform instrument handling and towing, as well as CTD / rosette casts.
The new RCRV’s load handling systems will comprise several improved features for smooth operation, including electric variable frequency drives (VFD) and active heave compensation (AHC) for all the winch systems, wireless control chest packs with CCTV display feeds and Rapp Marine’s proprietary Pentagon PLC Control System, among others.
Deliveries of the handling systems and the vessel itself are due to be carried out by 2019 and 2020 respectively.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has provided funding for OSU’s RCRV project, while Glosten was responsible for developing the vessel’s contract design.
