VESSELS, RIGS, & SURFACE SYSTEMS

Aker says that theSkandi Aker is able to perform deepwater well intervention services that oil companies previously needed drilling rigs to conduct – and in a quicker timeframe and for a fraction of the cost. The company says that this, in turn, can free scarce and expensive rig time, which allows the rigs to perform more drilling operations while the company carries out the intervention work.

“We are proud to receive the Ship of the Year award,” says Karl Erik Kjelstad, EVP Oilfield Services & Marine, Aker Solutions. “It is a prestigious award which is an excellent recognition ofSkandi Aker’s unique deepwater well intervention system and capabilities, as well as the ship itself.”

Skandi Aker is the first intervention vessels to classified according to DNV’s WELL-Notation, meaning the vessel is able to take oil on board. As a result, the vessel can perform well testing and clean-up, plus flaring of hydrocarbons through a flare at the stern. The vessel can also perform through-tube rotary drilling with coil and downhole motor, and managed-pressure drilling.

Aker says that the 157-meter (515-ft) long ship is the largest monohull subsea well intervention vessel built, boasting a large deck space, heavy capacity cranes, excellent sea-keeping performance, dynamically positioned interventions, and 18 knots transit speed. She is equipped with a module handling system and a 400-ton AHC crane.

“A unique feature aboutSkandi Aker is her multi-functionality,” adds Kjelstad. “When she is not performing well intervention work, she can perform subsea installation and construction work, handling 225-ton structures down to 3,000 meters water depth.” Skandi Aker currently is performing subsea construction and installation work offshore West Africa. The vessel was built at the STX Norway Offshore yard in Søviknes, Norway. Norwegian company DOFCON ASA owns the vessel.

The Ship of the Year award is conferred by the Nordic shipping magazineSkipsrevyen.

Sea Trucks commissions new pipelay vessel

The Sea Trucks Group has announced the christening ofJascon 34, the newly outfitted and commissioned offshore DP-3 pipelay heavy lift vessel, at the Kwong Soon Shipyard in Singapore.

The ceremony was held at the Marina at Keppel Bay, where the Lady Sponsor Her Excellency Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan – First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – officially christened theJascon 34. The celebration was attended by a number of guests, including government officials from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and managing directors of the major oil companies operating in Nigeria and internationally.

Jascon 34: The Sea Trucks Group has christened the newly outfitted and commissioned offshore DP-3 pipelay heavy lift vessel.

TheJascon 34 is a multi-purpose DP-3 offshore construction vessel that is suitable for operations in deepwater regions, and built using the Sea Trucks’ hybrid design concept. The vessel was delivered on schedule and on budget. The company says that key differentiators include its rigid and/or flexible pipelay capability; large flexible unobstructed deck area; high capacity cranage; large accommodation facility of 335 beds; and its DP-3 positioning. This specialized vessel, built to American Bureau of Shipping Classification rules, will be operated by the Sea Trucks Group globally.

Jascon 34 has recently completed sea and pipelay trials, and will shortly commence its first assignment.

Deepwater Corrosion continues retrofit work

Deepwater Corrosion says its retrofit boat currently is working in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and will migrate westward so that it will be available for the South Texas market by the end of the summer season. The company says the boat will be self-sufficient to perform retrofits on structures in less than 90 ft (27 m) of water, and that the retrofits will be performed using it RetroLink system. This is a diver-less topside installed system designed to be replaceable after five years.

The retrofit boat will be manned by a five-to-seven man crew depending on the size of the structure. The company says most multi-legged structures can be completed in less than a day, with caissons taking less than an hour once the boat is on location. Deepwater says it retrofitted over 110 structures in 2009, with no loss time accidents.

Crossmar performs thruster replacements

Crossmar Inc. reports it has completed 13 thruster replacements on semisubmersible drill rigs for various clients. The company says that the dynamically positioned DP-3Crossmar 21 and the Crossmar 7 provide efficient vessel alternatives for such operations due to their deck space and onboard crane capabilities. This allows for maintenance and diving crews to work in more adverse conditions and still maintain ample space to safely launch, retrieve, and stow the thrusters. In addition to actual removal and installation, Crossmar says its multi-purpose barges can transport thrusters to and from semisubmersible rigs, further improving project efficiency.

Trinity Marine launches new barge

Trinity Marine Products Inc. reports that it has launched a new barge, theGlobal Long Beach, at its yard in Madisonville, Louisiana. The company says its affiliate, Global Marine Transport, will take delivery of the Global Long Beach upon completion of trials. The barge is to be the first of four new vessels to be built. All four will be ABS ocean-going barges, US-flagged, OPA 90-compliant, double-hull with a total cargo capacity of 10,000 bbl each. All four barges will be deployed on the US West Coast from Seattle, Washington, to Los Angeles, California, supplying distillate marine gasoil and marine lubricants. Trinity’s parent company, Maxum Petroleum, says that the new barges represent its continued commitment to its global marine customers and future presence in the U.S. West Coast maritime industry.