Ultra Deep Solutions orders DSCV trio at China Merchants

APRIL 20, 2015 — Singapore-based Ultra Deep Solutions has signed a contract with shipbuilder China Merchants Heavy Industries (CMHI) covering the constructon of three large Multipurpose Diving Support & Construction Vessels, with deliveries targeted for 2017/2018.
The vessels will be built to a new Marin Teknikk MT6023 DSCV design, with an 18 man single bell saturation system, for operations down to 300 meters.

Ultra Deep says the contract marks another important milestone in its history, in line with its strategic plan to spearhead the development and operation of efficient, cost-effective diving and support vessels in the oil and gas industry. The company says the delivery of these vessels “is ideally positioned for the uptrend in the subsea sector of the oil and gas industry in 2017/2018.”

“I am pleased by the positive response by oil majors and major diving companies to the design of our diving support vessels, and it affirms our company is heading in the right direction to build quality and size-appropriate vessels catered for the market,” says Chairman Shel Hutton. “The current slowdown in the market allows us time to ensure our designs are optimized and customized for relevance in the oil and gas industry. I am thankful to our partners, and supporters, especially MT, DNV, and CMHI, who have supported the company’s vision, and realizing our plans to build these vessels.”

Principal Characteristics:

Length overall: 111.58 m

Breadth molded: 23.00 m

Design Draft (SWL): 7.00 m

Deadweight: approx. 5600 T at SWL (incl. Dive, WROV equip. & solid ballast)

Cargo deck area: 1,015 sq.m +  3.9 x 3.9 moonpool

Max speed: 14 knots at dm = 4.5 meter

Marin Teknikk says the MT6023 DSCV is an advanced Diving & Construction Vessel developed for demanding operations worldwide. The vessel will have top class accommodations for 120 persons and two cranes, a 150 t offshore crane with depth capability to 3,000 m water depth and a 10 t crane for operation down to 300 m. In addition, arrangements are included for two WROVs (unmanned remote operated submarines/robots) for operations down to 3,000 meters ocean depth.

Marin Teknikk says the vessel’s 1,000 sq.m open work deck area with deck strength of 10 ton/sq.m and a smaller storage area on top of dive hangar, creates a good platform for transport of equipment and tools to and from oil- and subsea fields, prepared for world‐wide operations in the less deep and ultra-deep oil and gas sector projects.

The vessels will be built according to Det Norske Veritas GL class; DNV GL + 1A1, EO, SPS, DYNPOS AUTR, DK(+), HELDK-SH, COMF-V(3), CLEAN DESIGN, DSV-SAT, DSV SURFACE, CRANE, ICE C, NAUT-OSV(A), BWM-T, RECYCLABLE

CMHI is currently building two Diving Support Vessels of MT6024 design, due for delivery in 2016/2017, making it one of the most experienced Chinese shipyards to construct the complex MT6023 DSCV vessels for UDS.