Island Offshore is to expand its fleet of Rolls-Royce UT776 class platform supply vessels with more of the same type.
But there will be one major difference – the newly ordered vessels will use LNG (liquefied natural gas) for fuel.
They will be the first LNG powered UT vessels designed and powered by Rolls-Royce. The latest order by Island Offshore is for two vessels.
At present the Norwegian company has four of this class in service and two more under construction.
The LNG-fuelled units will be built by STX Offshore Norway at its Brevik yard, which has previously built a number of vessels for the ship-owner.
Rolls-Royce has worked for several years developing designs and systems for offshore vessels using LNG as fuel.
The company has developed a gas-electric diesel-electric propulsion system for the new vessel.
The effective capacity of the gas tanks is about 200cu.m, corresponding to 10 to 20-day operation on gas alone depending on the exact operational profile.
The gas engines are two of the new C26:33 series from Rolls-Royce.
The new UT776 CDG is 96m long with a beam of 20m, and will transport all normal offshore supplies. The ship will also be equipped for oil recovery.
Meanwhile, In the Americas, Fugro has been awarded a long-term diving contract by Otto Candies for Petrobras in Brazil.
The contract has a value for Fugro of about $100million (£60million) and covers both ROV and diving services.
Otto Candies is providing the Diving Support Vessel (DSV) and the five-years with five-year option contract will be managed jointly and kick-off mid 2011.
The new vessel Kelly Ann is being mobilised at Candies shipyard in the US. It is equipped with a 14 man – 300m rated saturation diving system, a work class ROV (FCV 3000) and an observation ROV (Lynx).
Kelly Ann will be employed carrying out inspection repair and maintenance activities along the Brazilian coast. This project is said to consolidate Fugro’s position as a leading diving operator in Brazil.