Hudson Shipbuilders, Inc. (HUDSHIP) of Pascagoula, Miss., recently delivered its fifth vessel for 1980, the 120-foot utility boat Wanda Louise, built for Gerald P. Hebert Enterprises, Inc. of Lafayette, La. Designed by Har Keswani & Associates of New Orleans especially for the production department of Transco Exploration Company, the new vessel will service production platforms up to 125 miles offshore.
The Wanda Louise is said to be a unique vessel for her size. In addition to having an American Bureau of Shipping loadline and being built to U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter I Requirements, her deck cargo capacity is more than 130 tons, and she has freezer/cooler equipment to handle perishable items for the platforms and standby vessels.
Liquid cargo capability includes fuel, industrial water, and triethylene glycol. Heavy-duty, 3-inch pumps are used to transfer these liquids. She is required to off-load cargo in any type of weather, and is equipped with anchor chain and windlass rather than a cable and winch.
Wanda Louise is powered by twin GM Detroit Diesel Allison 16V92NA engines, each rated 600 bhp at 1,800 rpm and supplied by George Engine Company, and Twin Disc model 527 reduction gears. On sea trials the vessel exceeded 12 knots. Auxiliary power is provided by two 50-kw Delco generators driven by GM Detroit Diesel 4-71 engines. Engines are monitored by a 21-point Marine Electric system.
The pilothouse is designed for maximum visibility. Furnished and installed by Rhodes Electronic Service of Houma, La., the vessel's electronics include Furuno radars, Sea Command VHF radiotelephone by SSE, Impulse depth recorder, Apelco Trident loudhailer, Micrologic Loran C, Marco-Konel SSB radio, Nav-Lite panel by Continental Electric, and Sperry steering and autopilot system.