Dive Boat Highlights Seacrest Growth

Situated outside the mouth of the Chaophraya River at Samutprakarn, Thailand, Seacrest Marine Co. Ltd., has become known as a builder of large crew boats, azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs and a range of other vessels. In operation since 1988, Seacrest Marine has built a list of international and domestic customers.

“Some Thai customers go to Singapore for their boats,” said Seacrest Managing Director Khun Tavipol. “But some Singapore customers are now coming to Thailand and Seacrest.”

The yard’s three marine ways can launch vessels directly into the deeper waters of the Gulf of Thailand. They can accommodate vessels up to a 22 m beam and up to 2500 metric tons and the company’s versatility is demonstrated by the fact that outside the company offices, an older steel buoy tender is in for general repairs while next to it a new aluminum crew boat awaits delivery to her owners.

Inside one of Seacrest’s weather-protected double building halls, the hull and superstructure of a new 52 x 7.8 m dive boat is taking shape. When completed later this year, it will have accommodation for a crew of 24 who will crew the ship and support the 18 passengers.

A pair of Cummins KTA50-M2 diesels, each rated for 1875 hp at 1950 rpm, power the vessel in a medium continuous-duty rating. The engines turn conventional propellers through ZF marine gears to give a design speed of 20 knots.

It’s a sophisticated vessel, as dive boats require compressors and other equipment to support the divers yet must offer a comfort level suitable for tourists. In a fabrication shop, Managing Director Khum Tavipol pointed out the efficiency of the piping work that involved minimal welds and virtually no wastage of pipe.

Such precise engineering and fabrication is the result of Seacrest’s elaborate and extensive design room where a dozen or more designers and draftsmen work at computers. The total vessel design, as well as each individual component, is represented in three-dimensional renderings. Project Manager Steve Tyler explained that this allows precise representation of details, such as engine room piping, to be drawn and set in place prior to fabrication.