NORWEGIAN shipyard Ulstein has delivered the seismic research vessel Oceanic Sirius to Eidesvik Offshore in joint venture with CGGVeritas.
The ship has been designed and built in accordance with strict environmental standards and equipped with state-of-the-art technology for advanced seismic research operations.
Sirius is sister to the Oceanic Vega, delivered by the yard in July 2010.
“We are proud to deliver a vessel that features among the most advanced seismic research vessels in the world, and we are confident that she will stand the owners in good stead for many years to come, says managing director of Ulstein Verft, Karsten Sævik.
For Norwegian company Eidesvik, this is the third X-bow vessel to join its fleet. For French group CGGVeritas, this is its second X-bow unit.
The SX120 class Oceanic Sirius is a powerful seismic research vessel with a dynamic towing force of 140 tons.
The ice-class vessel is considered ideally suited for acquisition of large 3D, 4D or high-resolution seismic survey projects.
Her 20 streamer winches are each capable of spooling 9km of streamers.
Oceanic Sirius is designed to stay permanently at sea with five-year docking intervals.
There are enough engines and generator sets on board to conduct maintenance at sea and refuelling is carried out by dedicated support vessels.
The vessel is equipped with two CP (controllable pitch) propellers in a nozzle, each driven by two frequency converter-driven electric motors.
This allows smooth speed control of around five knots during seismic acquisition. Two work boats will be used for maintenance of in-water equipment. Oceanic Sirius complies with the Clean Design demands as well as the redundant propulsion notation from classification organisation DNV.
The vessel’s redundant propulsion system ensures that propulsion and steering remain intact after failure in parts of the system.
Diesel electric propulsion can reduces fuel consumption and atmospheric emissions.