Udupi: Tebma Shipyards Ltd launched a state-of-the-art Geo Technical Research Vessel ‘Furgo Scout’ at its shipping yard at Malpe Fisheries Harbour here on Monday, February 23.
Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA of Udupi, flagged off the vessel in the yard and congratulated the Tebma Shipyard team for their achievement.
The vessel has unique deepwater drilling capabilities in water depths upto 3000m. It is equipped with proprietary drilling technology and fitted with state-of-the-art on-board systems. The vessel is a mini-drill ship capable of drawing soil samples up to three kilometers below the sea bed and has been constructed in accordance with the latest rules and regulations of Det Norske Veritas GL, meeting the latest International rules of the International Maritime Organization.
The vessel is powered by diesel electrical propulsion systems driven by most modern Active Front end Drives for best fuel efficient operation.
It is equipped with a redundant dynamic positioning station-holding capability (DP 2) symbolizing fail safe operation and is built to Comfort Class COMF-V (3) standards with quarters for up to 60 personnel, an indication of high crew comforts.
The navigation bridge is ergonomically designed over a centrally located moon pool; the vessel has automated pipe and tool handling equipment to promote safe drilling floor operations for sea bed sampling and testing. A large soil laboratory provides a unique open-plan working environment for geo-technicians.
Given the volatility in the ship building industry, this highly technically specialized vessel with many firsts to its credit, is indeed a feather in the cap for Indian shipbuilding industry, making the slogan “Make in India” more meaningful.
The state-of-the-art Geo Technical Research Vessel (GTRV) “FUGRO VOYAGER” was built & delivered by Tebma Shipyards Ltd (TEBMA) to its customer FUGRO, the market leader in Geo-Tech Research in 2014. This GTRV vessel has been awarded as the ‘Best Research Vessel of 2014’ by Work Boat World, Australia, a leading industry magazine.