IHC Merwede launches second pipelayer in series

FEBRUARY 23, 2014 — IHC Merwede’s Krimpen aan den IJssel, Netherlands, shipyard has launched the second in a series of five sophisticated pipelayers in a ceremony in which it was named Sapura Topázio Puan Sri Datin Seri Yazreen Yahya, spouse of Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Shahril Shamsuddin, President and Group CEO of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, headquartered SapuraKencana.

The vessel was ordered by Sapura Navegação Marítima, a joint venture between SapuraKencana and Seadrill and will, on delivery, follow sister vesselthe Sapura Diamante – destined to go to Brazilian waters to develop deep-sea oilfields on behalf of Petrobras.

The Sapura Topázio will be equipped with a pipelaying spread designed by IHC Engineering Business. She will have  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. The tower orientation allows for maximum deck space, while utilizing a high-capacity 610 t abandonment and recovery (A&R) system. A custom-designed control system from IHC Drives & Automation integrates each aspect of the pipelaying spread to ensure excellent performance, safety and reliability.

“Two years ago we signed a contract with Sapura Navegação Marítima for two pipelaying vessels,” says Arjan Klijnsoon, Managing Director of IHC Merwede’s Offshore division. “In August 2013, we signed another contract for a further three innovative vessels. With a total of five ships, Sapura Navegação Marítima has entrusted IHC Merwede with an impressive order and overall project. The construction and launch of the Sapura Topázio is on schedule, which proves that we are a reliable partner for such complex vessels, particularly considering that all of the others are also on target.”

Name SAPURA TOPÁZIO
Type 550 t pipelaying vessel
Customer Sapura Navegação Marítima
Builder IHC Offshore & Marine BV
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) 7,025 t
Deadweight (max) 10,070 t
Accommodations 120 people