Havyard to convert subsea vessel

Deep Ocean has chartered the ship from Havila Shipping for seven years, plus four one-year options, to be employed on cable laying and trenching operations, scheduled to begin once the conversion is complete in March 2014.

Havila Phoenix, a Havyard 858 design, was delivered from Leirvik in 2009. Built as a construction vessel, the new contract means it must carry additional equipment for cable laying and trenching in connection with offshore windmill installations. To accommodate the extra equipment, the ship will be lengthened by 17.4m, with almost 700 tons of new steel. The stern will be reinforced and a 250t A-frame will be installed for launching a large trencher, while extra equipment will be provided for over-side launching of smaller trenchers. The cable laying equipment includes a horizontal cable drum with capacity to store 2,000t of cable.

After conversion the

Havila Phoenix

will measure 127.4m length oa, 23m beam, 1,450m

²

deck area, and have accommodation for 140 personnel. Havyard says it has a healthy orderbook, with nine vessels on order up to mid-2015, but welcomes the chance to diversify into conversion.