Merwede lifts crane vessel contract

The UK-based Acergy S.A. announced the placing of an order by Seaway Heavy Lifting Engineering BV in Holland, its long term joint venture, with the Merwede shipyard in the Netherlands to build a DP crane vessel.

The new 183 metre long monohull vessel will be fitted with a crane with a revolving lift capacity of 5,000 tonnes and Class 3 dynamic positioning. A unique feature of the vessel will be an innovative hull shape, for which a patent is pending, which will enable her to have a transit speed of 14 knots, combined with exceptional working characteristics for a monohull design. She will have accommodation for up to 395 people and delivery is planned for early in 2010.

Lift heights of 102 m for the 5,000 tonne main hook and 134m for the 800 tonne auxiliary hook will enable the vessel to undertake an impressive range of projects from dual hook upending of large jackets to heavy deck installations. The installed DP3 system also enables the vessel to be employed for the installation of large and heavy subsea structures, TLP/Spar foundations and topsides.

The new build cost of approximately $460 million will be financed by $110 million equity split 50/50 between the two partners. Bruno Chabas, Chief Operating Officer of Acergy, said “The project is well advanced with basic design, which started in mid 2005, now completed, long lead items on order and work now progressing with the construction contract. With a 5,000 metric tons revolving lift capacity and fast transit speed, this new vessel will expand our global reach and enable our clients to develop

their offshore fields more economically.”

Tom Ehret, Chief Executive Officer of Acergy, further stated “The Seaway Heavy Lifting joint venture is a long established and very successful operation. With the addition of this new vessel, the joint venture will no longer have a finite duration and will become a 50/50 venture in all respects for the partners thereby demonstrating their long term commitment to this venture. The charter of the Stanislav Yudin to the JV is also extended.”

The Seaway Heavy Lifting joint venture was formed in 1991 to operate the crane vessel Stanislav Yudin, an anchored 2,500 tonne lift capacity crane vessel that has installed offshore oil and gas platforms and subsea structures in the North Sea, the Mediterranean, Mexico, the Middle East and India.