The Daily Review - January 2006
Excerpt...
"Conrad launches vessel construction with 'Mary Grace' - Conrad Industries first foray into the crewboat construction arena has been launched.
The 180-foot motor vessel 'Mary Grace' recently passed its field trials with flying colors and now carries the shipyard's 001 builder's plate.
The vessel was constructed at the Conrad Aluminum LLC year in Amelia.
It measures 180-by-32-by-14.6 feet and carries 39,000 gallons of fuel, 68,000 gallons of water and up to 300 tons of freight on its 112-by-26-foot cargo deck.
Seating is available for 70 passengers in the main deck cabin and accommodations for up to nine crew members in the hull."
Alan Haig-Brown, Marine Photographer and Writer - May 2000
Excerpt...
"The people at Diamond Services Corporation, based in Morgan
City Louisiana, like powerful boats and they like to test the
limits with new technology. They are also prepared to shop
around for engines and propulsion systems. With two new
170x30-foot crew boats currently under construction at Swift
Ships in Morgan City, Diamond Services, a subsidiary of the
Carline Corporation, is becoming well established as an
operator of the new generation large crew boats. They
launched the first of this class, the "Paula Kay", in May of
1997 with four Cummins KTA38-M1 main engines with a rating of
1000 HP each. The engines drove Hamilton HM571 waterjets to
give the boat a light speed of 29 knots or 28 knots with 64
passengers, crew, ship's fuel, water and a 30 ton deck cargo.
In a subsequent boat, the185-foot "Kristin Grace", the firm
tried another manufacturer's engines. But for the currently
building 170-footers they have returned to the Cummins KTA38
base. "We have a lot of hours on the "Paula Kay's" KTA38-M1
engines," says Diamond Services Mike Swiber, "and we like the
service and support that we have had."
Business News - February 1998
Excerpt...
"Diamond Services, located at 503 South DeGravelle Rd. in Amelia, new waterjet driven crewboats flow 'effortlessly' thanks to the power of HamiltonJet waterjet pumps. 'There is, now less downtime at the shipyard,' said Mike Swiber, purchasing manager at Diamond."
The Currents - February 1998
Excerpt...
"Innovation, Expertise, Customer Service Are our Foundations - Paula Kay - `170', 4 waterjet configured crewboat.
WorkBoat - April 1998
Excerpts...
"Diamond Services Corp. took delivery of a 170' x 30 x 13', aluminum crew/supply boat in February... "
...
"Mr. Stephen is powered by four Cummins KTA-M1 12-cyl., turbocharged engines, each producing 1,000 hp at 1,800 rpm. The engines connect to Hamilton HM 571 waterjets through Twin Disc MG-5204 marine gears with 1.53:1 reduction ratios.
'With Waterjets, there's less down-time,' Swiber said of Diamond's powering choice. 'No bent rudders, no bent props. And it's the latest technology.'
The propulsion package pushes the boat along at 28 knots when fully loaded with passengers, crew, fuel and 30 LT of cargo."
Marine Link.com - July 1997
Excerpts...
"There is a new generation of crew boats evolving to meet the
needs of the Gulf of Mexico oil industry as it moves farther
off shore. At 170 x 30 ft. (52 x 9 m), Diamond Service's
Paula Kay -- launched at Swift Ships in Morgan City, LA. --
is stretching the size of these boats to meet oil company
demand. Mike Swiber, Diamond Service's Purchasing Manager,
explains, "Customers want bigger boats for their softer ride
and safety in rough weather as well as cargo handling. The
also want fast boats and the jets are fast enough to beat
the weather when traveling 100 miles off shore." As size
grows, owners of the four and five engined boats have been
experimenting with various means of propulsion from straight
props, to a mix of props and waterjets and Paula Kay is propelled
by waterjets only."
"Owner of the Morgan City-based company, Wallace Carline has
demonstrated his commitment to waterjets on his last two boats,
the Detroit-powered Mr. Mel and the Cat-powered Lisa Ann."
"Like the Paula Kay, the first two boats feature Hamilton
waterjets. But Diamond Services chose four Cummins KTA38-M1
V-12 engines that will each deliver 1,000 hp continuous at
1,800 rpm.
The engines drive through Twin Disc MG 5204 marine gears with
1.5:1 reduction turning the shaft and 22.5-in impeller at
1,200 rpm."
"Paula Kay can carry up to 200 long tons on her 105 x 24-ft.
cargo deck. Her tankage for transferable fuel is 17,800. In
sea trials she topped out at 31.5 knots with a full
complement of 64 passengers and 10 tons of cargo."
Workboat Magazine - July/August 1997
Excerpt...
"Gulf's 'biggest' crewboat - 'They'll be the biggest crewboats in the Gulf,' Swiftships Inc.'s A.J. Blanchard said of the two 170' vessels the Louisiana yard is building for Diamond Services Corp.
The first of the waterjet-powered sisterships, the Paula Kay, was due to be delivered in May, and the second, the Mr. Steven, is slated for completion in the fall."
World Offshore Service Vessel Yearbook - May 1997
Excerpt...
"'Paula Kay,' Largest Cummins-powered crew boat joins Gulf of Mexico fleet - There is a new generation of crew boats evolving to meet the needs of the Gulf of Mexico oil industry as it moves farther offshore. At 170 by 30 feet, Diamond Services' 'Paula Kay', launched at Swift Ships during May 1997, is stretching the size of these boats to meet oil company demand."
Marine Log Magazine - April 1996
Excerpt...
"The business of extracting oil from under the Gulf of Mexico is booming again. Utilization of supply boats has been running at better than 95%".
HamiltonJet - JetTorque - September 1996
Excerpt...
"Evaluation of the first vessel commissioned, the 143' monohull "Mr. Mel" built by Swiftships for operator Diamond Services, showed the quadruple HM571 waterjet system offered significant competitive advantages over earlier vessels which used conventional propellers. The success of this vessel prompted the owner to commission a sister ship "Lisa Ann" plus a further two 165' versions."
CWF Hamilton & Co Limited (HamiltonJet) March 1995
Excerpt...
"Breaking with tradition is never a decision taken lightly and is usually only done when there are compelling reasons. This was the case when Diamond Services Corp. of Morgan City, LA., opted to use waterjet propulsion in their new crewboat for servicing oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico."
Offshore Technology Annual
Excerpt...
"In her first weeks of operation, the most recent addition to Diamond Services black-hulled fleet of crew boats, was working out of Port Fourchon, La. Diamond's senior Capt. Tracy Frederick was in command of the DP-1 boat. Asking a visitor to remove his shoes before walking on the immaculate non-skid maroon-red wheelhouse floor, he said, 'This is a lot of boat to handle. When I have to put a man up on a production platform and I have to set the stern right alongside, but that is where these jets are so good. The maneuverability is so fast and accurate, there is no delay because the gear is always turning and I just use the bucket and throttle. On the wheel there is only about a quarter turn and you have full thrust to port or starboard. You can drive it like a car.'"