Cosco orders two semi-subs

Cosco Shipping Co Ltd of Guangzhou, China, has signed a contract for two large semi-submersible heavy-lift newbuildings with Guangzhou Shipyard International for delivery in September 2010 and March 2011. This is the second contract signed as part of Cosco???s newbuilding programme for the semi-submersible transport and installation market.

The purpose-built 50,000 dwt heavy-lift vessels will have a large open cargo deck measuring 177m x 43m, capable of transporting the largest semi-submersible and jack-up rigs currently in the market. With a length of 216.70 m, a breadth of 43 m, loaded draught of 9.85 m and a hull depth of 13 m, the newbuildings will be highly versatile and capable of handling a wide range of cargoes such as offshore structures, drilling rigs, topsides, jackets, FPUs, FPSOs, barges and other floating and non-floating structures.

Capable of stern or side loading, the new ships will be able to submerge their main cargo decks up to a depth of 13m in order to load large floating structures. Ballasting will be controlled by large capacity compressors which will enable operations to be completed in just over four hours. The propulsion system is diesel-electric and will provide a service speed of 14 knots. Prime design considerations of safety and reliability resulted in double separate redundant propulsion (with Class notation RPS) and ballast systems.

Cosco’s new vessels will be particularly suitable for the float-over installation of large topsides thanks to their ample strength, stability and ballast capacity. The aft buoyancy casings can be easily and quickly relocated using the vessel???s own equipment.

The commercial management and marketing of the vessels will be handled under exclusive agreement by Houston/Rotterdam-based NMA Maritime.