French energy giant GDF Suez has handed out a five year, multi-million pound contract to Sentinel Marine to provide an Emergency Response & Rescue Vessel (ERRV) to support drilling operations in the Southern North Sea.
The 1,890 tonne ship, named Cygnus Sentinel, will be built in the Fujian Southeast shipyard in China, and is due to arrive in the UK in January 2015. The vessel will provide emergency cover for GDF’s flagship £1.5billion gas project, Cygnus.
Jean-Claude Perdigues, Managing Director of GDF Suez E&P UK said: “Placing this order for the Cygnus Sentinel demonstrates our long-term commitment to safe and effective operations support in the UK Continental Shelf.
“At peak, Cygnus will provide 5% of the UK’s gas and ensuring the safety of our personnel during this project is our utmost priority.”
Jonathan Mitchell, Managing Director of Aberdeen-based Sentinel Marine added: “The Cygnus Sentinel is one of eight multi role ERRVs being delivered in 2014/2015 by Sentinel Marine.
“All eight vessels have a fuel and environmentally efficient design and offer the crews a high level of on-board comfort. The vessels will comply with pan-European industry standards, which will allow them to work in all areas of the North Sea as well as throughout the UK Continental Shelf.”
GDF’s UK division has said it is now the eighth largest offshore acreage holder in the UK North Sea,
Mr Perdigues has confirmed that Cygnus discovery,– the largest gas find in the southern North Sea for 25 years, was on track for first gas in late 2015.
The subsea and topside installation campaign is currently taking place.
Sentinel, launched by Rory Deans in 2011, also has an office in Singapore.
Operator GDF Suez holds a 38.75% interest in Cygnet, along with partners Centrica North Sea Gas and Bayerngas E&P.
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