Samsung to build wind farm installation vessel for Swire Pacific

The Swire Blue Ocean parent company, Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd., recently placed an order with Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to construct for a 161m, jackup type windfarm installation vessel.  Being built to Germanischer Lloyd class, the vessel will be delivered in June 2012.  The contract contains an option for a second vessel for delivery in 2013.

The Swire Blue Ocean vessel design is an advanced specification focusing on safety, efficiency and reliability.  The 160.9m x 49m vessel offers a significantly improved operating weather window, crane capability of 1,200 tonnes, DP2 station keeping, a transit speed in excess of 13 knots at 90% MCR, single berth accommodations for 111, and the ability to operate in water depths of up to 75 meters, a wind speed of 20 meters per second and significant wave heights of 2.5 meters. 

With a usable deck area in excess of 4,000 m2 and a total jackable weight of not less than 8,400 metric tonnes, the vessel offers great flexibility in the carriage and installation of offshore wind foundation and turbines of all types and sizes.

“The Swire Blue Ocean vessel is an important and timely innovation for the industry as it moves into deeper waters and more challenging operations,” says Lars Blicher, General Manager and Director, Swire Blue Ocean A/S, Greve, Denmark. “With more than 30 years’ offshore experience and a strong commitment to safety, Swire comes to the market confident they will deliver the high quality product, performance and service levels that offshore wind customers are looking for.”