Ulstein delivers Polar Onyx

MARCH 5, 2014 — Norway’s Ulstein Verft shipyard has delivered the offshore construction vessel Polar Onyx to GC Rieber Shipping. She is now headed to Huisman Schiedam in the Netherlands for installation of a 275 t vertical lay system, before going to work offshore Brazil for charterer Ceona.

The 130 m x 25 m Polar Onyx can accommodate 130 persons and is based on Ulstein’s SX121 design, which provides a high capacity for flexible pipe cargo below deck and on main deck. She has a construction/cargo deck area of 1,700 sq.m. She is equipped with an AHC offshore crane capable of lifting 250 t at 14 m outreach, and a 12 t AHC offshore crane. She will also carry two new work class ROVs, one to be deployed through a moon pool, the other over the starboard side.

The vessel is DNV classed  and meets the highest standards for station keeping, redundancy and dynamic positioning (DP3), with additional redundancy on all major components on board. Operability in DP2 operational mode is maximized with the ‘Operation+’ feature signifying that the vessel can  to continue and retain system integrity with uninterrupted operations even after a substantial single system failure.

Polar Onyx is powered by a diesel electric plant comprising six identical 2,740 ekW generator sets. Three thrusters forward and three azimuth main thrusters aft keep the vessel on a steady course during pipe laying operations.

Ceona has chartered the vessel for a fixed period of five years, with options for up to five more years. After delivery, additional topside equipment will be installed before ‘Polar Onyx’ enters operations from May 2014.

“We are delighted with the on-time delivery of the Polar Onyx,” says Ceona CEO Steve Preston. “After installation of a new 275 t vertical laying tower in the Netherlands, she will be immediately used at her full potential in Brazil to deliver safely and efficiently deepwater SURF services to Petrobras through our partnership with Odebrecht.”

Overall length: 130 m
Breadth: 25 m
Trial speed: 15.1 knots
Deadweight without VLS tower: approx. 8,200 t
Deck area aft of hangar: 1,700 m2
Ulstein X-Bow hull line design
250 tonne AHC offshore crane
ROV moon pool: 4.9 x 4.9 m
VLS moon pool: 8 x 8 m