Early Delivery of Exxon-Bound Arctic Offshore Vessel

Finnish shipyard Arctech has said it will finalize Arctic offshore supply vessel Vitus Bering four months ahead of schedule. The vessel will be delivered 18 December. Initially, the vessel was to be delivered in April 2013.

The shipyard is building two identical offshore icebreaking supply vessels for Russias largest shipping group Sovcomflot (SCF Group).

“The building of Vitus Bering has proceeded well, and we are now able to finalize it four months in advance. Also the building of the sister vessel is proceeding well in time, and we are planning to launch it by November-December 2012”, tells the Project Manager of the newbuildings, Jonas Packalén from Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.

The vessels will supply Exxon Neftegas Limited’s platform in Arkutun-Dagi oil and gas field in Sakhalin area, Far East Russia.

The main task of the Arctic offshore vessels is to supply the oil and gas production platform and to protect it from the ice. Both vessels measure 99.9 m in length and 21.7 m in breadth. Their four engines have the total power of 18,000 kW and the propulsion power of 13,000 kW. These vessels have been designed for extreme environmental conditions, they will be operating in thick drifting ice in temperatures as cold as minus 35 C°. The icebreaking capability of the vessels is extremely high, they are able to operate independently in 1.7 meter thick ice. As multipurpose vessels, they are capable of carrying various type of cargo and are equipped for oil combating, fire fighting, and rescue operations.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, August 17, 2012