Crowley delivers Shell’s Appomattox semi-submersible FPS

AUGUST 21, 2018 — Shell’s Appomattox project in the deep waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico reached another milestone this month with the recent delivery of the Appomattox semi-submersible Floating Production System (FPS) from Kiewit Offshore Services’ construction facility in Ingleside, TX.

Shell’s Appomattox project, which will produce 175,000 bbl of oil equivalents per day when it is fully operational by the end of the decade, is nearly 65% complete. It will produce oil from the Appomattox and Vicksburg fields in some 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana and in about 7,400 feet of water.

Making the tow-out possible were Crowley Maritime’s Ocean Sky and Ocean Sun tugboats, which worked together on behalf of customer Heerema, alongside other third-party assets to deliver Appomattox.

Demonstrating both nearshore and offshore capabilities, Crowley’s Ocean Class tugs safely towed the FPS through the Aransas Channel, then disconnected and provided escort services to the deep-water installation site. Once there, the tugs reconnected to provide positioning support so Heerema could attach the Appomattox FPS to its mooring spread.

“We are proud to have assisted Heerema with another safe and productive tow-out,” says Crowley Vice President Johan Sperling. “Our Ocean Class tugs and experienced team continue to demonstrate the company’s ability to provide offshore and heavy lift marine project support for a variety of energy customers. Few others have the experience and state-of-the-art marine assets that Crowley does. Together, they are a powerful and effective combination.”

Crowley’s Ocean Class tugs are modern ocean towing twin-screw vessels with controllable pitch propellers (CPP) in nozzles, high-lift rudders and more than 147 metric-ton bollard pull. The first two ocean class vessels, Ocean Wave and Ocean Wind, are classed as Dynamic Positioning 1 (DP1) tugboats and are twin-screw tugs with an overall length of 146 feet, beam of 46 feet, hull depth of 25 feet and design draft of 21 feet. The second two tugs of the class, Ocean Sky and Ocean Sun, are classed as DP2 and are 10 feet longer. All four vessels are capable of rig moves, platform and floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit tows, emergency response, salvage support and firefighting.