Eidesvik places $138 million order for IMR/construction vessel

Norway’s Eidesvik Offshore ASA has placed a newbuilding contract worth over NOK 800 million(about $138 million) with Ulstein Verft AS. It covers the construction of a 165 m offshore IMR/ construction vessel of the Ulstein SX148 X-bow design for delivery at the end of 2012.

Eidesvik has signed an eight year contract, worth over NOK 1 billion ($172 million), that will see the vessel go to work for Subsea 7 S.A. , which has been awarded a  a five year Frame Agreement Contract, plus two one-year options by Statoil ASA. The contract will cover provision of a dedicated vessel on full time basis, and associated project management and engineering support, for ROV based inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) work in the Norwegian Sea and North Sea starting mid 2011. The estimated contract value of this Frame Agreement is approximately $260 million.

With this  contract for a new Subsea IMR Vessel, Eidesvik Offshore ASA now has three vessesl on long term contracts with Subsea 7.

The Ulstein shipyard and design department  have  been working on this project for more than two years. Ulstein Verft sales manager Håvard Stave says: “Together with Subsea 7 and Eidesvik, ULSTEIN has developed a highly sophisticated offshore vessel. We have competed with the best players in the class, including contractors, shipowners, designers and yards. We are extremely proud. To us, this is truly an important contract.”

The vessel will be 106.5 m long and 24.5 m wide with a top speed of over 17 knots. It will be accommodate a crew of 90

The moon pool is located centrally in the ship’s hangar, in an efficient layout providing a good and safe indoor work area on the main deck. The vessel is equipped with three ROVs: one for observation and two for operation. It also has an MHS (Module Handling System).

Also onboard is a 100-tonne AHC (Active Heave Compensated) offshore crane. It will be used mainly for lifting/lowering heavy equipment from/to the sea bottom. The vessel has a high freeboard – which means the work deck is high above the waterline, providing added safety for the deck crew.

The vessel is able to carry out demanding operations even under harsh weather conditions. The X-BOW hull line design reduces hull motion from high waves, making it easier to keep on operating.

Statoil’s stringent operational demands require that the vessel has a good back-up system for much of the equipment and systems onboard. The vessel is ice-reinforced for arctic conditions.