SBM Offshore has awarded a contract to Keppel Singmarine shipyard in Singapore, for the detailed design and construction of a large, multipurpose dive support and construction vessel (DSCV).
The Dutch company says the investment is an important element of its strategy to grow offshore contracting activities within the turnkey services segment.
This high specification MT-6024 class vessel is from the drawing board of Norwegian ship designer Marin Teknikk, and will be built to DNV rules and international regulations.
The vessel will have a DP Class 3 dynamic positioning system and will be equipped with a fully integrated 12-man saturation diving system capable of operating in water depths to 300m.
A major feature will be a patented “double-deck” designed to provide a large storage/construction area on the upper deck, while keeping the conventional main deck unobstructed for anchor handling equipment.
A 250-tonne knuckle boom crane and an active heave compensated 150-tonne winch will enable the ship to carry out offshore construction and installation work in water depths to 1,500m.
Operations will be supported by one work-class and one observation-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV).
The vessel will be fully owned and operated by SBM Offshore.
Keppel Singmarine is due to deliver the DSCV in Q2 2013. Its sister company – Keppel Shipyard – is currently working on four floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) conversion projects for SBM Offshore.
The Far East yard has already completed 13 FPSO and floating storage offloading contracts for the Dutch firm, which provides offshore construction and installation contracting services, among other aspects of its business.
Meanwhile, in Norway, the Seven Havila, billed by its owners as the most advanced and modern dive support vessel (DSV) in the world, has been formally christened, some six months after basic completion late last year.
The 120m ship, designed by Havyard, was built at the Havyard Leirvik shipyard in Sogn, Norway, for a partnership between JV Havila Shipping & Subsea 7.
Eye-catching Seven Havila has been built to the Havyard 858 DSV design, is purpose built for underwater operations assisted by divers, and can steam at speeds of up to 17 knots. From the outset, the vessel was designed to fit around its advanced diving systems. As a result, throughout the design and build process there has been close co-operation between designer, shipyard, suppliers of diving systems, ship owner and ship operator.
Aside from the dive suite, other key features include 1,050sq m of deck space and a 250-tonne heave-compensated main offshore crane. Besides being capable of high-speed transit, Seven Havila is classed for operations in ice and is fully NORSOK compliant. Accommodating a crew of 120, the vessel will operate with up to 24 divers.