Shell's Brand New Icebreaker

I’m sure most of us would agree that there is no doubt we can, and do design and build some of the most technologically advanced vessels in the world right here in the US…I mean just look at our nuclear aircraft carriers or submarines- arguably the most sophisticated and advanced in the whole world.

We have the workforce and the infrastructure right her on US soil to build every type of vessel required to tackle the most challenging energy projects in ultra-deep water or new Arctic frontiers. The Aiviq is the proof in the pudding. We just need the gov’t to set a deadline for the end of needless waivers, and get our boys here in the US busy building the domestic fleet to replace the foreign flag vessels currently working on the OCS.

I mean, if the gov’t told the Oil Majors that the waivers would be phased out in the next 5-10 years, production is not just going to stop, there is just too much money to be made for the oil companies. The order books at US shipyards would start to fill up with new vessels, and we would rise to the challenge. Once shipyards started ramping up production of these new vessels, the process would become streamlined and eventually costs would come down to a level where they could compete with our friends in Europe. But in the end, I argue that it doesn’t really matter anyway because there is so F-ing much money to be made. Give them an ultimatum: no more waivers starting in 2020. You either operate with a slightly smaller profit margin due to building the ships here in the US, or you stop production and get no profit at all

In all honesty, I cannot think for one minute why the Shipbuilders Council of America isn’t lobbying the government to put into place just what you say, a phase out of the foreign vessels working in the GoM! WIth shrinking Navy shipbuilding work, you’d think that the yards with the capabilites to be looking at every potential contract they could get and the sophiticated offshore vessel market would be perfect for them to enter into. The oil majors will pay for the vessels regardless of where they would be built. There is too much money to be made for them to not. Of course, they prefer the status quo but they will blow with the wind and if the wind blows from a build US direction, they’d go! All it takes in the government to say “time to have only US vessels in the offshore industry”. No direct subsidises required, maybe a tax incentive but the money recovered in income taxes from yard workers and suppliers whould recover a huge part of those incentives.

Why is not Chouest pushing this HARD? They stand to get the lion’s share of this work if they want it! But General Dynamics and Northrup Grumman can also benefit with pipelayers and heavy construction ships. Just like with the mariner issue our government is giving away the store with this issue and it should be stopped. I think everyone here would be aboard with me on this one…any dissenters?

The noble discoverer arrived in Seattle today, guess they are getting ready for the big push north.

Some video of the Aiviq, which of course in German means “a whale’s vagina”. No wait, sorry it means “walrus” in the Inupiat language.

//youtu.be/f678c_k4SUc

How in the love of God did they get that monster from Larose to Fourchon? Through the Barataria? How though? She’s too goddamned big!

The ship didn’t have the house on. That was put on in Houma.

The ship didn’t have the house on. That was put on in Houma.

Then how in the hell did they get in out of the Houma Nav Canal? There’s no effing water down by Cocodrie! Did they just force her through the mud with horsepower alone?

I think I saw a YouTube video of some Crosby tugs towing it on a dry dock.

[QUOTE=c.captain;66446]How in the love of God did they get that monster from Larose to Fourchon? Through the Barataria? How though? She’s too goddamned big![/QUOTE]

They brought it to the Houma yard without the wheelhouse and just added it on there. They had the dry dock and a barge and pumped both up to raise the draft. I know they left Houma with a 25 ft draft, before putting on the barge and dry dock.

I am not sure when they left Houma, how long it took, but I am sure they dredged out the channel south of Cocodrie. Not sure if ECO sent a bill to Terrebonne Parish. Capt Joe did not tell me how many tugs he had take them out. I am sure it was a few. I have heard it is supped to depart in a couple of weeks for Seattle.

Y’all should talk to the guys that towed it from Larose to Houma they got it stuck at the 36 mile board by bollinger in Larose for like 12 hours stopping traffic. By the time they got it underway again they had almost 10 tugs some of which were big offshore tugs to get it moving again

Sweet, we should be in Fourchon in a couple hours. Maybe ill see her tonight

[QUOTE=c.captain;66310]Why is not Chouest pushing this HARD? They stand to get the lion’s share of this work if they want it! [/QUOTE]
Because Chouest owns half of Island Offshore with the Ulstein family. He already has the work. Smart fella

Notice this “new” icebreaker built in Larose looks eerily similar to this:
http://islandoffshore.com/#cid=18

Because Chouest owns half of Island Offshore with the Ulstein family. He already has the work.

I’m talking about building pipelayers and very large subsea vessels (vis. >150m) in the US for the GoM market and then go to Washington and tell the Congress to send all the GD foreign owned and operated vessels back to where they came from. Charter US vessels to Subsea 7, Technip, Saipem, et all… The GoM is supposed to be American turf and US companies and workers should ALWAYS have first dibs on everything. Chouest alone has the muscle to do all of it. Build and man the ships and pressure our great leaders in the government to make the needed reforms. Gary is a maritime business genious and he should make this his highest priority to see happen.

[QUOTE=nolacapt;67315]Because Chouest owns half of Island Offshore with the Ulstein family. He already has the work. Smart fella

Notice this “new” icebreaker built in Larose looks eerily similar to this:
http://islandoffshore.com/#cid=18[/QUOTE]

You think they look the same? Although I have not been on the Aiviq, I am very familiar with the Enforcer. I think soon enough, you will see one or two of these being built in Larose or Houma.

Houma To fourchon

[QUOTE=CaptRob1;67321]You think they look the same? Although I have not been on the Aiviq, I am very familiar with the Enforcer. I think soon enough, you will see one or two of these being built in Larose or Houma.[/QUOTE]

You must be the Cook I ran into a year or so ago that said he worked on the Enforcer.

I’ve worked on both the Enforcer and the Aiviq and I can say that they are not the same.

You should reread what captrob stated. He agrees with you that the Aiviq and Enforcer look very different. Also, he is the master of the island enforcer.

[QUOTE=Sukker;67351]You must be the Cook I ran into a year or so ago that said he worked on the Enforcer.

I’ve worked on both the Enforcer and the Aiviq and I can say that they are not the same.[/QUOTE]

Wont even comment…MB05j had it right…

Is this Mike D?

Yes she is still conducting sea trials

Sukker is pretty nervy, calling you out like that. How you been Capt Rob.

[QUOTE=Diesel;67387]Sukker is pretty nervy, calling you out like that. How you been Capt Rob.[/QUOTE]

He has the Napoleon complex. The best part about it, he’ll be returning here in a few weeks. I have a toothbrush for him. I have shitters that have to be cleaned.

Working for Shell in the North Sea. We’ll be on this side the globe for a little while. All crew remained the same (no one was pulled).