Heerema orders deepwater pipelayer

The contract with DSME is for the design, engineering, procurement, construction, installation, commissioning and testing of the vessel while Huisman will be responsible for the cranes, tower and reels. The vessel is scheduled for completion of all tests and trials by mid-2013.

HMC is investing in a monohull vessel capable of executing complex deep water infrastructure and pipeline projects in ultra deep water and with sufficient lifting capacity to execute installation of fixed platforms in relatively shallow water.

A key attribute of the vessel will be its fast transit speed. HMC believes this will complement its existing fleet providing a unique fleet composition, which will allow HMC to continue to offer unrivalled services to the offshore oil and gas industry on a world-wide basis. The new 210m long self-propelled vessel will be fitted with a pipelay tower for J-lay (tension capacity of 2,000 tonnes) and reeling. A crane with a revolving lift capacity of 4,000 tonnes is installed together with deepwater lowering equipment to reach a water depth of 3,500m, which is compatible with Heerema’s deep water construction vessel Balder. The vessel will also be equipped with a class 3 dynamic positioning system.

The hull configuration is specially designed for fast transit speed and optimum motion characteristics in operation while the maximum pipe payload is 4,500 tonnes. The deckhouse is designed to the latest standards and can accommodate 289 persons.