Royal IHC and Subsea 7 have signed a firm contract for the design and build of a new reel lay vessel, following a letter of intent announced in September this year.
The vessel will be capable of installing rigid flowlines including pipe-in-pipe systems from shallow waters to depths of up to 3000m.
With model tank testing already having been performed, delivery of the vessel is planned for early 2020. It should replace Seven Navica, which is expected to be retired from reel-lay operations in due course.
Royal IHC has delivered a total of eight vessels to Subsea 7. This new reel lay vessel will be the first to be equipped with a pipe lay system, also designed, engineered and built by IHC.
Dave Vander Heyde , CEO Royal IHC: “We are very proud of the confidence that Subsea 7 has placed in IHC. Our integrated approach to vessel design will give Subsea 7 an industry leading asset that sets a new standard in offshore pipe lay. Based on the ratio between top pipe tension and payload to displacement, this will be one of the most cost effective vessels to enter the market.”