Alewijnse completes Rowan Viking work

Alewijnse Marine Systems has informed it has completed the electrical installation for remodelling the drilling rig Rowan Viking.

The Rowan Viking is one of the largest of its type and will be used for oil exploitation in the North Sea.

Alewijnse was responsible for the service and maintenance of a number of critical electrical systems. A unique character of the project is that it includes the extension of the legs to 180 metres, with the work taking place at great heights using platforms that can be built around, and moved up and down, the legs.

Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen, part of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion, was awarded the contract by a subsidiary of Rowan Companies plc to remodel the Rowan Viking.
The Rowan Viking is a Keppel Fels ‘N’ Class Drilling Rig. The rig, at 124 (l) x 95 (w) x 170 (h) metres is one of the largest of its type. The Rowan Viking has been contracted to explore the Norwegian Lundin Oil Field and is having to be converted accordingly. Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen chose Alewijnse Marine Systems, which has a permanent representation at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen, for the electrical conversion of a number of important systems. These included the conversion and engineering of several electrical distribution systems, plus the installation of a new heli-fuel system.

Other installations included a completely new helideck status lights system, refurbishment of the radio room, installation of junction boxes to hook up to another rig for several rig systems like PA/GA/CCTV/UPS supply/ Normal supply/ Emergency supply, repair of accommodation utilities and various systems for the machinery deck. As well as those, additional emergency stops for the anchor winches and a remotely operated valve control system was installed.

Alewijnse also delivered and installed a number of electrical infrastructure components for new equipment including a parts washer and a screen washer, and performed additional test activities including emergency light and endurance tests. It additionally performed a complete upgrade of the lighting.

Mitch Opmeer, Alewijnse’s Rowan Viking Project Manager, said: ‘This was a unique project for Alewijnse and Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen due to the complexity of the leg extensions and the extremely high HSEQ and QA/QC requirements. A solid and good collaboration between the workforces of Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen, Alewijnse, Rowan and the other subcontractors ensured a great result’.

The Rowan Viking rig yesterday received an Acknowledgement of Compliance from the Norwegian authorities, meaning that the rig fits all the standards required for operation on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.