What’s this?
I’m just trying to figure this out. My best guess is that suspended from a 20-ton capacity A-frame is a set of underwater hands, a sampling device, a seafloor-drill, all tallied 14 tons of instruments and tools in a seafloor frame.
I can’t tell you the division of labor between the equipment lowered/raised through an approximately 10′ x 10′ moon pool by the 90′ derrick and the seafloor drill. My guess is the the seafloor drill can function at great depth. Note the Panamanian registry.
All those portlights . . . relate to the 50+ crew the vessel can accommodate.
The helideck . . . 62′ diameter, can accommodate helicopters of the Bell 412 type, i.e., up to about 3.5 tons.
If you didn’t click on the equipment and specifications link earlier, my source for all I pretend to know here, you can click here now. Since she was anchored in Gravesend Bay yesterday, the tide pushing her stern toward shore, I managed to get my first photos of her stern. I have seen the vessel, working to amass wind farm bottom terrain data, several times since January 2018. With the green light to transform South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a dedicated wind farm construction hub, I suspect some interesting and exotic vessels will be transiting the Narrows in the next few years.
All photos and attempted interpretation, WVD.
Maybe a reader out there can explain how this equipment really works and what super-detailed examples of bathymetric chart of the New York Bight look like.
tugster: a waterblog 
6 comments
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January 17, 2021 at 12:19 pm
sleepboot
Looking for something what we probably never need nor see.
Regards
Jan.
January 17, 2021 at 1:24 pm
El ilustrador de barcos
Dear sir, regards from Spain.
Well, about your question “what´s this”, is a seafloor drill device. See link: https://www.fugro.com/about-fugro/our-expertise/technology/seafloor-drills#tabbed3
The FUGRO EXPLORER is a DP2 Geotechnical drilling vessel with a drill rig DRECO model up to 3.000m depth. When she need to work in deeper waters, then they use a seafloor drill like your photo.
As you comment, the Empire windfarm in SouthEast of New York with 60-80 turbines and 816 MW power capacity, are in previously bathymetrics works, and you will see more “exotics” ships.
Regards, Roberto
January 17, 2021 at 4:26 pm
tugster
Thanks so much, Roberto. These are new to this part of the world, and I’ll be on watch for more exotic vessels.
January 17, 2021 at 1:51 pm
El ilustrador de barcos
However, the seafloor drill can be work in any depth. I don´t know the reason why they use this drill model in a New York coast. Probably is a decision from drill technicians.
January 17, 2021 at 3:19 pm
George Schneider
I noted your reference to the number of ports indicating the size of the crew. On every vessel I’ve been on, since the crew work varying shifts, the ports in the rooms have generally been plugged with cardboard or plywood from early in the vessel’s life until her demise. On rigs, carrying as many as 200 people, most of the rooms are inside and there’s no clamor for outside rooms; in fact, outside rooms tend to have the least temperature stability of any. So when I was asked for input on the new class of rigs being developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries, the suggestion was for offices to be around the perimeter, all the quarters on the inside. On vessels where some of the quarters have sitting rooms (I’ve never seen that on a rig) those too are good candidates for daylight.
January 17, 2021 at 4:37 pm
tugster
George– that makes a lot of sense. It’s counter intuitive but not having “windows” is a plus when you might be sleeping at all times of day and/or night. Your suggestion makes sense.