The current worldwide recession and project slowdown has been seen as a brake on capital spending by some operators. Amongst contractors who at one time were gasping for breath going from one big project to another this has provided some respite and a chance to re-load their capabilities.
Acergy which earlier this year disposed of its big pipelay vessel Acergy Piper, formerly known as LB200, has now acquired a new hull, Borealis, currently at Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore, which will be converted into major deepwater/harsh environment pipelay unit.
The hull, built in China, belonged to Nordic Heavy Lift, but the shareholders in the company which is in 'financial distress' gave the board the authority back in late November to sell any of its assets. At the same time, Acergy was looking for a new 'asset' and the two events coincided.
Borealis, designed by offshore specialist Sea of Solutions, was destined to be a heavylift construction vessel with a 5,000t crane and two 40t cranes. The big crane can handle a 600t load down to 3,000m. The vessel - 181m by 46m - can do 14kt, has accommodation for as many as 400 and is rated DPIII.
Spoiled for choice
The vessel is expected to be brought to Europe for installation of its pipelay systems which will be done either in the UK (EB) or Holland (Huismann). The j-lay tower will have a 1,000t capacity, while the s-lay system, designed to handle pipe up to about 26in, will have a tensioning capacity of 600t. The vessel will also be able to accommodate one of Acergy's heavyweight flexible pipelay systems if required.
The unit is expected to have completed its fitting out and sea trials during the first half of 2012. This long schedule allows the vessel to be kitted out at a leisurely pace and be available at a time when the market will be more likely to require it.
Another vessel that has just hit the market is the subsea construction/light well intervention unit Sarah which will be operated by Marine Subsea UK, formerly TSMarine Subsea. TSMS was created by a management buyout (SEN, 26/12) with the assistance of Marine Subsea AS, which is also the parent of lwi specialst LEWIS.
Sarah, based on an Ulstein SX121 design which employs the new X-Bow rounded hull, has an 8m by 8m moonpool and it is fitted with a 140t handling tower that can operate in either active heave compensating (AHC) or constant tension (CT) mode. Rated DPIII, the unit also has a 140t crane that can handle loads down to 2,500m.
The vessel does not yet have a well intervention package, but SEN has been told that the company is already in talks with suppliers for a subsea lubricator. It is also fitted with an rov hangar with a pair of Millennium Plus workclass rovs.
While not quite ready for the LWI market, Sarah already has a 10-year service agreement with Sonangol.
Also, an Expro technology development subsidiary has signed a five year contract with an option for an additional five years with Norwegian contractor Cecon to provide a vessel for deploying its AXS well intervention system (SEN, 26/14).
The vessel, a Vik-Sandvik 4220 design being built at the Davie yard in Quebec, is 130m by 28m and has 2,000m2 of deck space and a 250t crane. It will be able to do 16.5kt.
This deal covers not just an initial vessel for the first AXS system which is due to be ready for operation by next summer, but creates a long-term arrangement which will see Cecon as Expro's contractor of choice for its future AXS systems.
FROM SUBSEA ENGINEERING NEWS
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