ASL to build innovative pipelay vessel

The Larsen & Toubro/SapuraCrest Petroleum Bhd joint venture has ordered a new-generation heavy-lift/pipelay vessel designed by Sea of Solutions, part of the Offshore Ship Designers Group in Holland. Sea of Solutions was responsible for both the concept design and basic design of the $138m vessel, which will enter service in 2009. The S2500 pipelay vessel will be built by ASL Marine, Singapore.

The S2500 design is a customised version of the Sea of Solutions? Seabarge 3000 design, featuring a more shipshape hull with bulbous bow, increasing transit speed and generating additional space for the mooring system without consequences for DP lay-out. The S2500 has a 10-point mooring system and can be upgraded to DP.

The design incorporates a centre firing line with 6 single joint welding stations to optimise pipelaying operations. Furthermore, the vessel is equipped with a 3,000 short ton single post crane. For this project, Sea of Solutions teamed up with Delta Marin of Finland, one of its engineering partners.