Ocean Scout : Conversion to a multi-service vessel

In today's offshore market some older, smaller, and obsolete semisubmersible drilling rigs are finding a newplace in the offshore industry as multi-service vessels capable of an array of tasks. During the spring academic semester at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, the ocean engineering senior design class of 22 students, working with industry and faculty advisors, produced a preliminary design for the conversion of the semisubmersible Ocean Scout to a multi-service vessel for operation in the Gulf of Mexico. This report explains the major topics of the project addressed by the class which include vessel additions to create a variable deck load of 3000 long tons, a dynamic positioning system capable of stationkeeping in a one-year, nonhurricane storm event, and an economic analysis of the conversion for a five year project life producing a 38 month payback period.