Offshore staff
RIDING MILL, UK --Canyon Offshore has contracted The Engineering Business (EB) to design and build a new trenching machine for use in hard soils and deep waters.
The 85 metric ton (93.7 ton) i-Trencher will be able to excavate a 2 m (6.5 ft) deep trench using twin chain cutters. It will be equipped with four heavy-duty dredge pumps to remove soil from the trench. Jetting swords can be added, depending on the soil conditions.
EB used feedback from Canyon and its client Subsea 7 in the design. It claims that as a self-propelled machine, the new trencher will be suited in particular to infield installations and tiebacks in the North Sea. The company will also provide a handling system to allow safe launch and recovery in Sea State 5 conditions.
EB's yard in Newcastle, UK, will assemble and test the vehicle, with delivery due early next year. It will then be mobilized to Canyon's support vessel, followed by sea trials, before entering service for Subsea 7.
08/20/2007
