Norway: GMC Maritime Completes Modifications for Polar Duke

The job to complete the seismic ship Polar Duke from the shipyard in Vigo, Spain, went to GMC Maritime. The ship was docked at GMC facilities in Buøy, Stavanger, in early 2011.

Project manager Kjell Olsen of GMC Maritime travelled to the shipyard in Spain prior to bidding on the job. The main tasks were to complete the ship and modify the vessel with a “wide tow.” This means outfitting the vessel with more winches and the capability to tow a wider fan of streamers.

“We had gotten a very detailed description of the project before we took on the job,” Olsen says.

Increased contract size

After the contract was signed, and the Polar Duke was docked in Stavanger, the ship’s owner, GC Rieber Shipping​, requested extra work. This meant a significant increase in work hours, a challenge GMC Maritime handles on-site.

“We had several jobs that GMC Elektro solved, in addition to piping, steel, coating and mechanical work, and fitting up the bridge with new furniture,” Olsen says.

Cranes and raft arrangement

Rebuilding the Polar Duke into a “wide tow” vessel meant displacing existing winches and installing new ones. Additionally, the ship needed a new raft arrangement installed, with new davit cranes from Vestdavit. GMC mounted the workboat and an FRC (Fast Rescue Craft).

“GMC has mobilised professionals within steel and piping, and electrical and mechanical work, in connection with the testing and approval of our solutions,” Olsen says.

GMC Shipping handled the supply-chain management while the Polar Duke was at quay, while GMC Brannvern approved the on-board welding gas tanks.

[mappress]

Source: gmc, August 26, 2011;