The anchor handling tug supply vessel 'Bourbon Orca' is the first X-BOW vessel, delivered in 2006. Photo: Stills Studio

Bourbon Orca (Kommandor Orca)

New name: Kommandor Orca. The AHTS ‘Bourbon Orca’ was new in three respects: Diesel electric propulsion, introduction of a Safe Anchor Handling System, and the ULSTEIN X-BOW.

Owned By
Bourbon Orca
Built By
Ulstein Verft AS
Year
2006
Yard Number
273
IMO Number
9352377

Primary Specifications

Length
83.6 m
Beam
18.5 m
Dead weight
3180 tonnes
Draught (max)
7 m
Speed (max)
17.1 kn
Accommodation
35 POB
Deck area
540 sqm

Additional Data

Fuel Oil (MDO)
1486
Fresh water
503
Ballast water
2482
Brine
558
Winch
400
Towing power
180
Note: Specifications may have changed since the original completion date.
Classifications: DNV+1A1, SupplyVesselSF, Tug, E0, DYNPOSAUTR, CLEAN, COMF-V(3), DK(+), HL(+), NAUT-OSV(LOC)
  • Testing of the first X-BOW vessel, the hull of 'Bourbon Orca', at Marintek, Trondheim. Photo: Tony Hall
    Testing of the first X-BOW hull, the anchor handling tug supply vessel 'Bourbon Orca', at Marintek, Trondheim.
  • Bourbon Orca on seatrial
  • Bourbon Orca in ocean race
    The video was filmed by mobile phone on 16th of January 2007: The 'Skandi Caledonia’ is heading for the North Sea at a speed of 8 knots as the 'Bourbon Orca' catches up at 13 knots steady speed.

Ship history

The video in the photo gallery was filmed by mobile phone on 16th of January 2007: The 'Skandi Caledonia? is heading for the North Sea at a speed of 8 knots as the 'Bourbon Orca' catches up at 13 knots steady speed. 
 

The vessel has been designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS. Upon delivery from Ulstein Verft in 2006, the vessel was capable of operations such as Subsea Intervention, ROV operations, deepwater precision lifting and installation, transportation of cargo and oil recovery.

The innovations improved safety, environment, comfort, efficiency, fuel economy and sea keeping properties. "Less shaking, it also means less vibration, less noise and less splashing." (Arnkjell Brandal, the first officer to command the vessel, until May, 2015.)

The vessel received a number of awards, including the 'Engineering feat of the Year 2005', due to the ULSTEIN X-BOW innovation. The bow design radically changed the perception of what an offshore vessel should look like. The X-BOW is a slender bow design with an inverted flare - the bow slopes backwards instead of forwards. Model tests had, prior to the vessel construction, proved that the shape would result in very good sea keeping qualities and that the resistance level would be relatively low compared with flared designs due to the gentle entry angles into the waterline.

Feedback from the shipowner, Bourbon Offshore Norway, was gained six months after the vessel's delivery:
 

"We received an excellent workplace for the crew. Our crew members were eager to test the ship in harsh weather conditions. In one instance, when heading to an offshore location, Bourbon Orca left the shore base along with two AHTS vessels, one of which is owned by Bourbon. The latter two had to reduce the speed to approx 7 knots while Bourbon Orca proceeded at 13 knots without difficulties. The first storm was experienced in November 2006, Bourbon Orca headed for the oil field, and the waves were about 15 metres. When meeting head seas, the vessel was moving smoothly. With sea from the sides, the crew described her as 'a much larger vessel'.

The vessel is also equipped with diesel electric propulsion, which had only been tested on a few AHTSs before as an anchor handler needs a lot more propulsion power during heavy work loads than a PSV. Bourbon Orca is equipped with two azimuth propellers aft and one retractable thruster forward. Instead of having a giant motor on each main propeller, two electric motors are connected in series on each unit, in order to use a low-voltage electrical system. The solution consists of combining direct-current conversion and direct operation of the electric motors. This optimizes space utilization and makes the vessel more environmentally sound through lower emissions and more economical through lower fuel costs."

Milestones

2021: The vessel has been sold to the UK based company Hays Ships Ltd as of 06/09-2021, and changed its name to 'Kommandor Orca'.

2022: The vessel has been converted to a research vessel.

Skipshistorie

Skipet er designa av Ulstein Design & Solutions AS. Ved leveringa frå Ulstein Verft I 2006, var ?Bourbon Orca? ny på tre måtar: Dieselelektrisk framdrift, eit sikrare ankerhandteringssystem, og den særmerkte ULSTEIN X-BOW. Nyvinningane forbetra sikkerheita, miljøet, komforten, effektiviteten, drivstofføkonomien og sjøeigenskapane. "Med mindre risting, vert det også mindre vibrasjonar, mindre støy og mindre sjøsprøyt". (Arnkjell Brandal, første kaptein om bord fram til mai 2015)
 

Skipet fekk ei rekkje utmerkingar, inkludert 'Årets ingeniørbragd 2005', som følgje av ULSTEIN X-BOW-innovasjonen. Baugdesignet endra redikalt oppfatninga av korleis eit offshorefartøy skal sjå ut. X-BOW er eit slankt baugdesign der baugen rundar seg bakover i staden for å lene seg framover. Resultata frå modelltestane hadde vist at baugforma gir ein stødig båt, og at motstandsnivået ville vere relativt lavt samanlikna med framoverlente baugdesign på grunn av den mjuke inngangen i vasslinja.
 

Tilbakemelding på 'Bourbon Orca' frå reiarlaget, Bourbon Offshore Norway, etter seks månader i arbeid:
 

"Vi har fått ein god arbeidsplass for mannskapet. Vårt mannskap var ivrige etter å teste Bourbon Orca i tøffe vêrforhold. Ved eitt tilfelle skulle Bourbon Orca ut til ein offshorelokasjon. Skipet gjekk frå land saman med to andre ankerhandteringsskip, der eitt er eigd av Bourbon. Dei to skipa måtte redusere hastigheita til ca 7 knop medan Bourbon Orca heldt fram med 13 knop utan problem. Den første stormen opplevde vi i november 2006. Bourbon Orca gjekk til oljefeltet, og bølgjene var omkring 15 meter. Når fartøyet traff møtande sjø, bevegde skipet seg roleg. Når skipet fekk sjøen frå sidene, omtalte mannskapet det som "eit mykje større fartøy".

Skipet har også dieselelektrisk framdrift, som berre hadde blitt testa på nokre få AHTS-ar før. Eit ankerhandteringsfartøy treng mykje meir framdriftskraft under tunge arbeidsbelastningar enn ein PSV (plattform forsyningsskip). Bourbon Orca er utstyrt med to vribare azimuthpropellar akter og ein opptrekkbar thruster framme. I staden for å ha ein gigantisk motor på kvar propell, er to elektriske motorar kobla i serie på kvar eining, slik at vi kan bruke eit lavspent elektrisk system. Ein kombinerer likestraumsomforming med direkte drift av elektriske motorar. Dette optimaliserer plassutnytting. Med lavare utslepp er skipet meir miljøvennleg, og med lavare drivstoffkostnader er skipet meir økonomisk i drift.

2021: Skipet har blitt seld til det britiske selskapet Hays Ships Ltd den 06/09-2021. Fartøyet vil endre namn til 'Kommandor Orca'.

2022: Skipet har blitt ombygd til eit forskingsskip (research vessel).

2023: Still active - IMO 9352377