Ultra-long distance towing and anchor handling vessel ALP Keeper has been delivered to ALP Maritime Services.
The ALP Keeper was constructed by Niigata Shipbuilding & Repair in Okayama, Japan. It is one of four ultra-long distance towing and anchor handling vessels constructed for ALP Maritime Services, a subsidiary of Teekay Offshore Partners. It was named back in late June 2017.
ALP said on Monday that the delivery of the ALP Keeper was done last Friday, February 2. After the delivery, the vessel left the yard and then began its journey to Pohang for further outfitting.
The vessel is a part of the shipowner’s ALP Future class, a series of towing vessels made for offshore installation and decommissioning of large FPSO units, FLNGs, and drill rigs.
The vessel is based on the Ulstein SX 157 design and has a service speed of 13 knots, while its top speed is 19 knots. With a fuel capacity of more than 3,500 m3, the ALP Keeper and the rest of the Future Class quartet can tow at full power for 45 days, sufficient for non-stop Trans-Atlantic/Indian and the Pacific Ocean towing operations without fuel calls. The vessel is 88.9 meters long and 21 meters wide.
The aim of the design was to have sufficient bollard pull and operational reliability to handle even the heaviest tows with only two vessels. All four vessels are classed with DNV’s Clean Design and Ice Class 1B notations, which allow operation in restricted zones. The ships can accommodate 35 people for long periods at sea.
ALP’s previous three Future Class vessels are the ALP Striker , ALP Defender, and the ALP Sweeper launched in October 2015, January 2016, and May 2016, respectively.
Offshore Energy Today Staff