Gallery: ‘Island Venture’ on sea trials

Norwegian offshore shipbuilder and designer Ulstein, is putting final touches on the Island Venture offshore construction vessel.

According to Ulstein’s release on Thursday, the vessel has been tested at sea trial this week. The sea trial is now in the final stage and the Island Venture will return to the yard by the end of the week to be completed.

The vessel, of the Ulstein SX165 design, is one of the largest vessels built at the yard so far. It is being built for Island Ventures II, a joint venture between Edison Chouest Offshore, and Island Offshore.

The vessel was originally 147.5 metres long with a beam of 28 metres and is now 160 x 30 metres. After the building had started it was decided to increase the deck area and the tank capacity. A 140 tonnes crane with 3,000 metres wire installed, as well as a 400 tonnes crane that can operate at 4,000 metres depth. The cable for the largest crane weighs 330 tonnes and has a diameter of 125 mm. The vessel has three moon pools – two for ROVs and one construction moon pool of 12 x 11.2 metres.

“The extension of the design resulted in many changes and upgrades for the vessel’s systems, as for example the machinery and the electrical installations,” says project manager Per Svein Brekke.

‘Island Venture’ can accommodate 200 people.

‘Offshore Energy Today Staff; Images by Ulstein