Modular construction at Intracoastal Marine

Yard News - May 25, 2007

Alexandra Danos is being built using modular construction techniques.

Louisiana shipyards are famous for launching fine vessels from some pretty basic facilities, and Raymond Viguerie’s Intracoastal Marine is a good example. His yard near Bourg Louisiana doesn’t need fancy building sheds. It relies on good people like yard manager Joey Portier to keep the several boats building at any given time moving along to schedule.

An important part of keeping to the schedule is the use of modular construction. While working with a small crew, the yard has been able to build Alexandra Danos with efficiency and a minimum of time spent climbing in and out of the hull.

The 140ft by 34ft mini-supply vessel was fabricated in three modules. One module was for the raised foc’sle and superstructure, another for the forward hull and the third for the aft hull. A huge advantage of this approach is that welders, pipe fitters and other workers can walk directly in and out of the engine room or other parts of the hull without having to climb up and down ladders.

Alexandra Danos, with a moulded depth of 12ft and a loaded draft of 10ft is being built for Gulf Offshore Logistics LLC.

The main engines are a pair of six-cylinder Cummins KTA19 each delivering 640 hp at 1800 RPM into TwinDisc 5170 5:1 gears. The bow thruster is powered by a 330hp Cummins QSL9 and the boat is fitted with a pair of 75 kW Cummins 6BTA-powered gensets.

She will have an 84ft x 27ft clear deck for cargo. Her tankage will include 130,808 gallons for rig water, 14,244 for potable water and 46,147 gallons for fuel.

Alexandra Danos will be DP1 equipped and will provide accommodation for 16.