Norway: Reef Subsea’s Two New Vessels Complete Maiden Projects

Reef Subsea’s Two New Vessels Complete Maiden Projects

Reef Subsea’s Technocean company in Norway was awarded the maiden project for the recently delivered Reef Despina. The vessel concluded the operation offshore in Bergen, undertaking sea trials for Aker Solutions’ third ROV Tie-in System (RTS).

Simulating the water depth at the Goliat field in the Barents Sea, where the RTS tool will be premiered later this year, the Despina was positioned in Byfjorden fjord where the RTS and one of the vessel’s WROVs were deployed to 350m.

An Aker Solutions-produced ROV Interface Module (RIM) allowed the XLR WROV to mate with the RTS, which was then function tested at depth. The project scope was successfully completed within the proposed schedule, much to the pleasure of both Reef Subsea and Aker Solutions. Survey positioning services were provided throughout Specialist Subsea Services (S3), a subsidiary of Reef Subsea.

S3 – based in Aberdeen – was also awarded the maiden project for the recently delivered Reef Larissa by Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC). Project was to deploy and calibrate LBL transponder arrays at a depth of 600m in the Laggan field and 610m in the Tormore field, 125 km West of Shetland, in preparation for the installation of integrated template structures at each site by HMC’s heavy lift vessel, Thialf. Whilst on site, the vessel also conducted debris clearance surveys and bathymetric observations at each template footprint. Reef Larissa was on site for 5 days and performed well in marginal weather conditions.

Reef Subsea’s Two New Vessels Complete Maiden Projects

New-build Reef Despina and Reef Larissa were chartered last November for five years from Neptune Offshore AS, a company Reef Subsea owns 25% ownership. They have recently completed an enhancing programme at A&P Tyne in Newcastle to better address the oil & gas and renewable energy client’s needs. The vessels have also been contracted by Talisman Energy for a several-month project to begin by the end of the month.

Chief Operating Officer of Reef Subsea, Tim Sheehan, said: “We are thrilled that the Reef Despina and Reef Larissa have successfully completed their maiden operations, which puts them in a great position to fulfil even more before the project with Talisman. And to receive contracts from companies as highly regarded as Aker Solutions and Heerema Marine Contractors instils great confidence in us for future projects. The Despina and Larissa have great potential, and we are happy to have them in our growing fleet.”

Both the Reef Despina and Reef Larissa are 98.6 metres in length and have transit speeds of up to 13.9 knots, weather dependent. They both feature larges areas for online and offline rooms and have accommodation for up to 75 persons. The vessels feature anti-heeling systems and 150 t (AHC) offshore cranes for the handling of subsea equipment over the ship side or through the moonpool, with dismountable sections in bulwark both on the starboard side and after end. The vessels have 844 square metres of usable deck area and 160 square metres of available sheltered area. Each features a hangar with integrated LARS for the deployment of two work class ROVs on the port and starboard sides. Each vessel also has a moonpool of 7.2 metres squared for installation of equipment into the seabed, and module handling towers.

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Source: reefsubsea, June 5, 2012