Technip has unveiled the name for its latest newbuild diving support vessel, currently being built by Vard. The state-of-the-art vessel will be known as the Deep Explorer.

The high-specification vessel will be equipped with the latest technology in terms of navigation (DP3) and will feature a 24-man saturated dive system. With her large deck area, working moon pool, work-class ROVs and a 400-tonne offshore crane, she will also be able to deliver diverless construction activities.

Technip’s commitment to investing in the new vessel was announced in April 2014.

Following the detailed engineering and design phase, construction of the ship’s hull commenced at Vard Tulcea in Romania a few months ago. On completion of the hull, the vessel will be towed to Vard Langsten in Norway for final equipment outfitting and commissioning. She is scheduled to join the Technip fleet in 2016.

EXTREME

Purpose-designed for the demanding requirements of the North Sea and Canadian markets, the Deep Explorer will be capable of working in extreme weather conditions. Her potential area of operations remains global.

Knut Boe, senior vice president of Technip’s North Sea Canada region, said: “Technip has a long history in the diving industry and we are very pleased to extend our long-term commitment to diving and to the oil and gas industry with the development of this important new vessel. At delivery, the Deep Explorer will be the most advanced diving support vessel in the world.”

SBM Offshore, the Netherlands, has announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell the diving support and construction vessel SBM Installer to OS Installer AS for US$150 million (GB£99 million) in cash.

OS Installer AS is a newly established joint venture between Ocean Yield ASA, Norway, (75%) and SBM Offshore (25%). Both parties have signed a memorandum of agreement, and SBM Offshore will charter the vessel under a long-term bareboat charter for a fixed period of 12 years. The company will have certain options to acquire the vessel during the bareboat charter period, with the first option exercisable after five years.

The DSCV SBM Installer is a state-of-the-art, multipurpose DSCV based on the ‘MT-6024’ design from Marin Teknikk in Norway and built to DNV rules and international regulations.  

Built by Keppel Singmarine in Singapore in 2013, the vessel features the patented ‘double-deck’ design which improves safety as well as providing significantly more deck space.

The vessel is equipped with a DP3 system and a fully integrated 12-man saturation diving system capable of operating in up to 300 metres of water. A 250-tonne knuckle boom crane and 150-tonne winch enables the vessel to carry out offshore construction and installation work in water depths of up to 1500 metres.

UK-headquartered Bibby Offshore’s Houston, USA-based division, Bibby Subsea, has signed a three-year contract with Bordelon Marine, USA, to charter a new vessel.

The Brandon Bordelon is an ultra-light intervention vessel (ULIV) and will commence a three-year charter in August 2015 primarily operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The addition of the Brandon Bordelon to Bibby Offshore’s existing international fleet of specialised vessels enhances the capability throughout the Americas region, said a spokesman.

The purpose built, high specification Brandon Bordelon vessel provides a versatile and cost effective approach to a variety of operations, including IMR operations, light construction, survey and inspection work, he added.

Brandon Bordelon’s sister vessel, the Connor Bordelon, received 2014 American Ship Review Ship of the Year Award.

“Since its inception, Bibby Subsea has experienced significant client demand for its service offering, which continues to increase across North America. In November 2014, the company also announced investment in a custom-built facility. Located in the Houston Energy Corridor, it is set to strengthen the company’s presence and enhance its on-the-ground support for clients in the region,” the spokesman said.

Marin Teknikk, Norway, has entered into a contract for the design and delivery of a large multipurpose diving support and construction vessel (DSCV) for Ultra Deep Solutions (UDS) in Singapore.

The 142.9-metre long MT6027 DSCV will be built by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) in China for delivery in early 2017.

The vessel will feature an 18-man, twin-bell saturation system for operation to a depth of 300 metres. Two cranes will also be incorporated – a 400-tonne offshore crane with a depth capacity of 5200 metres single-fall and 3200 metres dual-fall and a 40-tonne offshore crane for operation down to 300 metres.

HOUSE

The contract also includes an arrangement for two work-class ROVs for operations to a depth of 3000 metres. The new vessel will house accommodation for up to 140 people.

Marin Teknikk said the vessel, to be built according to Det Norske Veritas classification, will offer a good platform for transport of equipment and tools to and from subsea oil and gas fields worldwide. The contract also includes an option for another vessel of the same type.

DEVELOP

Richard Gjerde, sales director at Marin Teknikk, said: “We have been working closely with UDS for the past year to develop one of the largest and most advanced DP3 diving vessels in the offshore industry.”

The chief executive officer of UDS, Sheldon Hutton, added: “The ‘Red Class 6027’ combines practicality, safety, reliability, efficiency and impressive subsea technology. We are confident that it will exceed the expectations of oil majors and offshore operators.”

Mermaid Maritime, Singapore, has won a US$50 million (GB£33 million) two-year contract for its dive support vessel Mermaid Commander, which will be deployed on a subsea construction project in the Gulf of Thailand.

The vessel will provide support for a repeat international fabrication and installation contractor whose end-customer is a major international upstream oil and gas operator.

Work is scheduled to commence in April 2015. The contract duration will be over 130 days per year for both 2015 and 2016, serving the entirety of the customer’s campaign in the Gulf of Thailand. The contract shows an improvement in day rates compared to those achieved in 2014, Mermaid said. The two-year contract duration, instead of one year, was also a coup in the face of the current weak oil price, the firm added.

INCLUDE

The two-year contract will be performed using saturation diving and will include the installation of numerous spool pieces, risers, wyes and tees.

Mermaid will also provide a remotely operated vehicle survey, and a spool fabrication spread.

“The group is very pleased to have been awarded this contract to provide subsea construction support in the Gulf of Thailand for the tenth and eleventh consecutive year. We have consistently won contracts despite the recent weakness in oil prices, and the ongoing demand for our scope of services is a strong indication of our proven track record and continued standing as a leading provider of subsea and drilling services in the oil and gas industry,” said Chalermchai Mahagitsiri, chief executive officer of Mermaid.

Ocean Installer, Norway, has been awarded a contract for an umbilical installation project with Oceaneering, USA, for LLOG Exploration, USA, on the Delta House project. The project is in the Mississippi Canyon area. This marks the construction support vessel Normand Vision’s first subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) contract in the Gulf of Mexico.

“We are very pleased that we are able to present Normand Vision to the region and demonstrate her capabilities on an interesting project,” said Mike Newbury, president of Ocean Installer in the US.

The scope of work includes umbilical transpooling, pre-lay survey, installation of umbilical with dynamic and static sections and umbilical pull-in to the semisubmersible. The Normand Vision will use the 1800-tonne carousel on the back deck of the vessel to install the umbilical for the Son of Bluto 2 discovery in 2000-metre water depth.