IHC Holland Merwede win pipe laying vessel

Merwede Shipyard, a subsidiary of IHC Holland Merwede BV, has received the contract for the design and construction of a new Reeled Rigid Pipe laying / Offshore construction vessel for Subsea 7. The pipe laying equipment will be designed and built by Huisman Itrec. Merwede Shipyard was granted the order because of its ability to design and offer the vessel fully complying with the owner?s requirements, including the integration of the complete pipe laying spread and cranes, within the required short delivery time. Delivery of the vessel will take place in the second quarter of 2007.

SIEM, through its subsidiary Subsea 7, has announced that they have signed contracts for a new-build rigid pipelay and construction vessel. The overall project cost is in the $180-200 million range and is based on fixed prices from Merwede Shipyard and the pipelay equipment supplier.

The vessel will have an overall length of 157.10 metres, a breadth of 28.4 metres and a deadweight of 12,430 tonnes. The ship will be a fully Dynamic Positioned Reeled Rigid Pipe laying / Offshore Construction Vessel, suitable for worldwide operation. The main power plant will consist of a 6.6kV integrated electric power generation system, and propulsion by three electro-motor driven fixed pitch propellers in azimuthing nozzles aft. Two retractable Azimuth thrusters will be fitted in the forward part of the vessel; one transverse thruster will be arranged in a tunnel forward.

A large 400 MT offshore crane will be located on the port side of the vessel amidships. Two other large offshore deck cranes will be located one on the starboard side at the forward end of the main working deck and one on PS at the aft end of the main working deck.

Aft of the main pipe lay reel, a clear deck area of at least 650m2 will be arranged. A pipelay ramp will be located at the aft end of the ship. Cantilevered work platforms will be provided at each side of the transom at main deck level. A full width ROV hangar will be located after of the accommodation block. Vertical ROV deployment rails will be fitted in the ship?s sides port and starboard.