IHC Merwede books orders worth €450million for three pipelaying vessels

IHC Offshore & Marine, part of IHC Merwede, has signed two contracts with Malaysian offshore operator SapuraCrest for the design, engineering and construction of two new 550 t pipelaying vessels. A third contract has been signed with OSX Construção Naval S.A. Brazil for the design and engineering of a 300 t pipelaying vessel plus a large equipment package supplied by IHC Engineering Business, among others. The orders have a total value of €450million. 

All three ships will install flexible pipelines in Brazilian waters, under Petrobras’ contracts awarded SapuraCrest.

IHC Merwede will build the two identical 550 t pipelaying vessels at its Krimpen aan den IJssel shipyard in The Netherlands. The vessels are the first fully integrated offshore vessels completely designed, engineered and built by IHC Merwede with a pipelay spread supplied by IHC Engineering Business. In addition, IHC Drives & Automation will deliver the integrated automation system, the full electrical installation and the complete electrical machinery package. Other IHC Merwede businesses, such as IHC Piping, are also delivering equipment. 

The third vessel – with a top tension capacity of 300 t – will also be designed and engineered by IHC Merwede. Under Petrobras requirements, it will be built in Brazil, at the OSX shipyard in Açu, Rio de Janeiro. The pipelay spread will be supplied by IHC Engineering Business.
The delivery dates for the vessels to be built in The Netherlands have been set for May and August 2014 respectively.

“IHC Merwede is delighted with the orders that have been confirmed by SapuraCrest and OSX,” says IHC Merwede’s President Govert Hamers. “Together with the pipelaying vessel we are building for Subsea 7, IHC Merwede plays a major role as technology provider on four of the six pipelaying vessels ordered by Petrobras.

“We are extremely proud of our record on reliability and cost effectiveness for the delivery, management and execution of projects. These contracts reinforce our position as a supplier of reliable, efficient and flexible vessels, and advanced equipment that can meet the shortest possible lead times for the demands of oil and gas projects,” he said.

Main features of the vessels 
550t pipelaying vessels    300t pipelaying vessel
Length overall:    146 m    133.81 m 
Breadth:    29.94m    4 m 
DP Class:    2    2 
Main crane capacity:    250 t    100 t 
Pipe tension capacity, dynamic load:    550 t    300 t

March 1, 2012