Van Oord goes to China for new installation vessel

The 14,000dwt ship will be built at Sinopacific’s Ningbo yard in China, and is scheduled for 2016 delivery. It will be 154m long, 28m wide, DP-3 equipped and able to operate at depths of over 600m. It will have onboard accommodation for 60 personnel.

The artist’s impression issued by Van Oord shows a bow shape similar to the Ulstein X-Bow. The company confirms that the design was carried out in close cooperation with the Ulstein Group, paying special attention to energy efficiency. The ship will carry a Green Passport, and is classed to Clean Ship Notation and Ice Class 1A – PC7.

According to Van Oord, SRI is a proven technique for the protection and stabilisation of offshore structures and pipelines, and is one of its main activities for clients in the oil and gas industry. The new ship, which will be suitable for installation of a wide range of rock sizes through a fall pipe or a tremie pipe at the side of the vessel, joins three other SRI vessels in the 100-strong Van Oord fleet.