WesternGeco contracts Gibdock for vessel overhauls

Offshore staff

GIBRALTAR -- Gibdock shipyard has completed a maintenance and upgrade program on the DP-2 class ROV/subsea service and platform support vessel Toisa Vigilant.

The 2005-built, 3,426dwt vessel was in the yard for three weeks this summer. For the owner Sealion, Gibdock undertook a program which included an overhaul of the MAK 8L26 main engines, the two bow thrusters, and the two stern thrusters.

In addition, the yard refurbished and repaired other parts of the vessel such as the sea valves, cranes, and lifeboats, while also painting the underwater areas of the hull. Main engine and thruster components were removed and taken to Gibdock’s workshops for a program of inspection, calibration, and full overhaul, before being returned to the vessel.

Under a separate contract, WesternGeco, the vessel’s charterer, commissioned Gibdock to replace onboard equipment that had been used for experimental seabed scanning systems. A section of deck was cut, a transformer unit weighing around 20 metric tons (22 tons) was removed, and a new unit installed. Deck areas were reinstated, a protective cage was installed around the transformer unit, and additional ladders and rails were fitted.

Gibdock and WesternGeco also solved a problem with the antenna cable, which tended to become entangled during deployment. As a result, Gibdock manufactured and installed a new roller-based system to prevent the antenna cable from snagging in future.

WesternGeco later booked in its seismic survey ship Western Trident to the yard for an extensive package of works.

09/23/2010