Yantai Raffles to build special bulker

Yantai Raffles Shipyard in northern China has been awarded a contract to construct a flexible fall pipe bulk carrier worth approximately $78 million by the Dutch dredging, offshore and marine construction company Van Oord.

The vessel will measure 175m long, with a 26m beam and an operational draught of 10.67m, and be built in accordance with ABS and BV class rules.

The vessel has been designed as a bulk carrier which can alternatively be operated as a DP flexible fall pipe vessel to carry out sub sea rock installation works. These rock installation works include the stabilization, protection and covering of cables, pipes and flow lines, free span correction, upheaval buckling prevention and filling up holes around platforms, structures and rigs. Other operations include seabed preparation prior to pipe laying, construction of underwater berms, thermal insulation of offshore oil pipelines, protection against anchors and fishing operations and ballasting of platforms, structures and loading buoys.

As one of the largest of its kind in the world, the newbuilding will have a deadweight of approximately 30,000 tonnes and a loading capacity of some 28,000 tonnes. The fall pipe will measure 1.1 metres in diameter and will be able to operate at a maximum working depth of about 2,000 metres. The vessel will have accommodation facilities for up to 52 persons.

The rock placing will be carried out through a central moon pool via a Van Oord patented flexible fall pipe system. At the lower end of the fall pipe, a powerful cylindrical shaped ROV (remotely operated vehicle) will be attached and will be equipped with state-of-the-art survey equipment such as subsurface positioning, sonar sensors, cameras and monitoring equipment, allowing highly accurate placing of rock material.

Upon completion in the fourth quarter 2008, the vessel will start its operations in European waters but will be suitable for worldwide operations.

Brian Chang, Yantai Raffles? chairman, said “Having been awarded this contract has proved to be yet another milestone for YRS. As the offshore business continues to ride on an upswing, we will open up more of our capabilities and take on an even larger market share.”