Bender Granted Conversion Contract From Cal Dive

Bender Shipbuilding & Repair of Mobile, Ala., has been awarded the conversion of the 400 x 102 ft. (121.9 x 31 m) Sea Sorceress. The barge, which will be converted from a manned fuel barge to a DP-II construction barge for Cal Dive International of Houston, Texas, will receive eight 850 kW retractable Z drives. These drives will be powered by four Wärtsilä generators providing 6.6kV of power. A new engine room on the dynamically positioned barge will be used for the vessel's main source of power, as well as ancillary equipment. A 31 x 102 ft. (9.4 x 31 m) stern piece will be removed and replaced by a new stern housing for four of the thrusters - the other four will be positioned forward in the bow. Bender will also implement a Kongsberg Simrad SDP 22 Dynamic Positioning System and in conjunction with ABB, an integrated control and monitoring system. A 380 ton Huisman crane will be installed along with various mission equipment to complement the pipe lay and underwater construction equipment.