Petrobras to Hire Newbuild PLSV ‘Polar Onyx’ in Brazil

The SX121 designed construction vessel ‘Polar Onyx’, currently under construction at Ulstein Verft, will commence work for Petrobras in Brazil from May 2014. Ceona and Odebrecht Oil & Gas (OOG) will be operating in partnership to deliver subsea construction services to Petrobras utilising Ceona’s new construction vessel as a pipelay support vessel (PLSV).

The vessel will work as part of the expanding Petrobras fleet of PLSVs in deep and ultra-deep waters offshore Brazil, installing and recovering flexible risers, flowlines and umbilicals in depths of up to 2,200 metres, and the vessel will be in operation with Petrobras for a firm period of 12 months. Under the partnership, OOG will handle the Brazilian Service Contract while Ceona manages the vessel and the delivery of subsea services.

‘Polar Onyx’, on charter from GC Rieber Shipping, is being built to the highest standard for dynamic positioning DP3, and is equipped with a 250t AHC offshore crane. It will have a 275t vertical lay system, situated over the moon pool, and is capable of installing flexible pipes and umbilicals to 3,000m water depth. The vessel is designed to operate in the SURF/Construction/IRM market, with high capacity for flexible pipe loads.

Press Release, January 07, 2014; Image: Ulstein