Petrofac chooses Ulstein design for lay vessel

JANUARY 20, 2014 — The JSD 6000 deepwater derrick lay vessel ordered last week by Petrofac (see earlier story) is to be built to a customized Ulstein SOC 5000 developed by Ulstein Sea of Solutions, the Ulstein Group’s Netherlands based design unit.

The vessel will be constructed at the ZPMC shipyard in China and be available for construction and installation activities in early 2017.

The dynamically-positioned Petrofac JSD 6000 features J-Lay, S-Lay and heavy lift capabilities, allowing it to serve deepwater and SURF markets as well as shallow water EPCI projects.

It has a 5,000 t lift capacity NOV revolving main crane with 5,000 mt lifting capacity. But what makes the vessel unique is the combination of a 600 t Remacut S-lay system via a center firing line below main deck, and a 2,000 t IHC EB J-lay system via a moonpool. This double deck configuration, a distinctive feature of Ulstein Sea of Solutions designs, allows for a large, unobstructed deck area and below deck pipe fabrication.

“We are very pleased that Petrofac selected us for designing their first offshore construction vessel,” says Edwin van Leeuwen, managing director at Ulstein Sea of Solutions. ‘We feel it is a recognition of our design capabilities for this high end market. It is the third customized version of our succesful Ulstein SOC 5000 design after the Seven Borealis and Aegir], which are both already in operation. The success of the project comes for account of the close cooperation between Petrofac’s team and our project team, managed by Sjaak Jan Jiskoot.”

Main dimensions:
Length OA        215.9 m
Length BP        197.6 m
Beam (molded)        49.0 m
Depth (main deck)        22.4 m
Operating draft        10.9 m
Service speed        12 knots
Installed power        6 x 8,500 kW
Positioning        DP3
8-point mooring
Class        Lloyd’s Register
Ice class            Finnish Swedish 1C
Deck strength        15 t/sq.m
Complement        399 persons