Technip has entered into a long-term charter agreement for a new-build ST-261 class offshore construction vessel with North Sea Shipping.
The charter will be for a period of five or seven years commitment with a five-year extension option and a further option to purchase the vessel.
According to Technip, the vessel is specially designed and equipped to suit the Norwegian installation market. However, Technip expects to use it in other offshore oil and gas theatres.
The advanced subsea construction vessel is to have a length of 142m and breadth of 27m. It will be fitted with a 400-ton crane and a 2,000-ton carousel for storage of flexible pipe below deck.
It will be equipped with a diesel electric propulsion plant based around four 4,200kW generator sets.
Besides the big crane, there will be a further 50-ton crane, a large moonpool and two integrated ROV hangers.
It will be built at Bergen Group in Bergen, Norway, and delivered in 2014.