Siem Offshore of Norway has ordered an installation support vessel from Ulstein to be built by the Norwegian shipyard Fjellstrand, with an option booked for a second vessel.
The vessel of SX163 design will be used for installation, repair, maintenance and general service duties within the offshore renewable energy and the offshore oil and gas markets. It is scheduled for delivery in March 2014.
The 74m length overall by 17m breadth vessel can accommodate 60 persons. It will be equipped with cranes and an active heave compensated gangway-based offshore transfer system for safe transfer of personnel to fixed and floating structures.
A diesel electric propulsion system and two Voith Schneider Rudder ECS propeller units will be fitted. These are claimed to be capable of “excellent performance” with respect to fuel efficiency, speed and sea and station keeping.
The vessel, which has been developed in close cooperation with Siem Offshore, will be the first vessel of Ulstein design to be built by a Norwegian yard other than Ulstein’s own shipyard in Ulsteinvik.
Since 1999, Ulstein has sold 88 designs, 63 of which are X-Bow style. boast the characteristic X-BOW® hull line design.
Meantime, Ulstein has launched the inspection, maintenance and repair vessel Seven Viking, which will be co-owned by Eidesvik Offshore and Subsea 7.
The SX148 design will carry out a multitude of tasks for client Statoil, including inspection, maintenance and repair of subsea infrastructure, scale treatment and RFO operations.
The 106.5 length overall by 24.5m breadth vessel will be capable of up to 16 knots. It will be kitted out with a customised module handling system (MHS) for the safe launch and retrieval of subsea modules weighing up to 70 tonnes.