Gulf Fleet Marine Corporation has accepted delivery of the Gulf Fleet No. 44 (shown above), a 190 by 40 by 14-foot towing/supply vessel. She was built in Houma, La., by Quality Shipyards, Inc., another Gulf Fleet company, and represents the 102nd vessel in this rapidly growing fleet.
Powered by twin GM Electro-Motive Division 16-645E2 diesel engines that develop a total of 3,900 bhp at 900 rpm through Reintjes WAV 481 3:1 reduction gears, this vessel is capable of sustaining speeds up to 13 knots.
The No. 44 has a clear deck space of 96 by 32 feet, with a maximum deck cargo capacity of 522 long tons. Underdeck, she can carry up to 520 tons of drill water. The vessel has bulk tanks with a 5,800-cubic-foot capacity, as well as liquid mud tanks with a 1,250-barrel capacity that provide for the carriage of 189 tons of liquid mud. Also provided in this versatile vessel are 1,250-barrel calcium chloride tanks.
Its towing package consists of a double drum SMATCO 66 DAW 200 towing winch with a drum capacity of 2,500 feet of 2-inch cable on each drum, and a 5-foot by 8-foot stern roller. With a measured bollard pull of 70,000 pounds, this vessel is classed by the American Bureau of Shipping as +A-1 (AMS), All Ocean Towing, and is built in accordance with specifications of the United States Coast Guard.
Gulf Fleet president Richard M. Currence attributes a great deal of the success and strength of the company to an extremely active construction program that he anticipates will continue. Gulf Fleet Marine provides a wide range of services to meet the needs of the offshore petroleum and offshore construction industries, and is one of the Houston Natural Gas group of companies.