Design and operation peculiarities of platform support vessels (PSVs)

Object and purpose of research. This papers discusses PSVs (or, in RS classification, Supply Vessels): special ships that provide offshore drilling rigs with drilling supplies, fuel, water, provisions, spare parts for equipment, as well as deliver personnel shifts to/from the platform and perform the functions of duty, rescue, fire, and environmental protection vessels. The purpose of the study is to develop a physical model of PSV functioning and give design recommendations for proper de-termination of its characteristics and properties. Materials and methods. Generalization and analysis of PSV design and operation, as well as analysis of Russian and foreign publications about PSV specifics, supported by systematized statistical materials sufficient for design recommendations. Main results. This work summarized the data on PSV properties, characteristics, design and operation requirements, as well as the ways to implement them in terms of hull shape, general arrangement, mission-specific equipment, conceptual type and power plant, suggesting a vision of PSV as design object. Regressive analysis performed by the authors is supported by a wide scope of design materials that summarizes PSV operation experience and development trends, thus preparing the basis for future PSV designs. Conclusion. PSVs are the main link in the offshore oil and gas production. The ships of this type are becoming more and more popular, especially in their multi-purpose variant. This paper makes it possible to formulate design requirements for them, as well as to trace the ways of their implementation. This paper also suggests the methods for determination of PSV dimensions, conceptual type and mission-specific equipment, as well as main design parameters, properties and transportation and operation capabilities.