b'MEMBER NEWSFormer OSV to Become Marine SpaceportA BS is supporting the reactivation andfor year-round operations, and can move withonautonomousrocketrecoverydroneships. modification of an offshore supportthe sea breeze so that there is virtually no windThis is an exciting new arena, and ABS has a key vessel (OSV) to function as the worldsacross the deck. role to play in supporting the safe development first marine spaceport for human space flights.and implementation of offshore assets for new The flights will be operated by a space tourismABS is already a pioneer in the field of offshoreapplications,saidMiguelHernandez,ABS company which offers a six-hour journey tospace support, with our industry-leading worksenior vice president, global offshore.space in a pressurized capsule which is lifted into space suspended by a giant balloon.Modifications to the near 300-foot-long OSV to outfit it as a marine spaceport are already underway at Conrad Shipyard, Morgan City, La. The outfitting includes a balloon launch system and a space capsule A-frame, which will house the pressurized capsule using a specially designed cradle on the aft deck. ABS is provid-ingclass,engineeringreviewandregulatory services for the OSV, renamed Voyager, with completion expected later this year. Voyager is being retrofitted to use low-carbon biofuel and is expected to be completed later this year. Both ABS and Conrad Shipyard are PVA members.Flights will both from land at Kennedy Space Center and from sea, using the former OSV. The ship will transport passengers to an ap-proved offshore location where the giant bal-loon will fill with hydrogen and lift the balloon and its passengers 20 miles above the Earth. At the end of the six-hour flight, the pressurizedWhen you need PHOTO COURTESY OF SPACE PERSPECTIVEcapsule will gently splash down in the ocean.to design modern Following splashdown, rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RIBs) will stabilize the pressurized cap- crew and passenger sule in the water until Voyager is able to load itaccommodations for back onboard.increased comfort The spaceport concept depends on its abilityand sustainability.tofindideallaunchconditions.Vesselscan navigatetoareasofgoodweather,allowing crowley.com/interiordesign39 MAY 2023'