Royal IHC launches fifth pipelayer in Sapura series

AUGUST 21, 2015 — Netherlands shipbuilder Royal IHC has launched Sapura Rubi, its fifth 550 t pipelaying vessel for Sapura Navegação Marítima S.A. in a ceremony at it shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel.

The naming of the fully integrated vessel was performed by Ms. Glaucia Maciel, Human Resource Manager of Sapura Navegação Marítima S.A,  a joint venture between SapuraKencana and Seadrill.

Sapura Rubi and her sister vessels are being completely designed, engineered and built by IHC and to work on developing Brazilian deep-sea oilfields in depths of up to 2,500 m on behalf of Petrobras.

The vessel will be equipped with a pipelaying spread designed and built by IHC, and two below deck storage carousels, with capacities for 2,500 t and 1,500 t of product respectively. A vertical (tiltable) lay system with a 550 t top tension capacity will be permanently installed for the deployment of a range of flexible products, and the tower orientation allows for maximum deck space.

A custom-designed IHC control system integrates each aspect of the pipelaying spread to ensure excellent levels of performance, safety and reliability.

Arjan Klijnsoon, IHC’s Executive Director Marketing & Sales, says: “With these ships, Sapura Navegação Marítima has entrusted IHC with an impressive order. The entire project has been on – or ahead of – schedule, which proves us to be a reliable partner in complex activities.”

He adds that the operational vessels are all performing very well.  

• Length overall 145.9 m
• Breadth molded 29.9 m Depth main deck 13 m
• Draft (operational) 7.2 m
• Draft (max) 8.3 m
• Deadweight (operational) 10,727 t
• Deadweight (max) 31,402 t Accommodations 120 people