PHOTO: Shakedown Cruise for Seven Rio

Seven Rio, built by Royal IHC for Subsea 7, has started sea trials following the installation of a 550mt pipelay tower at the Huisman Schiedam quayside.

In November last year, IHC launched the Subsea 7’s 550t pipelaying vessel, at its shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel, The Netherlands. The naming ceremony was carried out by Anelise Lara, Petrobras Executive Manager for the Libra Project.

To remind, In August 2013, IHC announced the orders from Subsea 7 for three ships of identical design to the recently launched SEVEN WAVES.

With an overall length of 146 meters, a beam of 30 meters and a Class-2 dynamic positioning system, these vessels will be equipped for transporting and installing flexible flowlines and umbilicals in water depths of up to 3,000 meters.

The three PLSVs, the Seven Rio, Seven Sun and Seven Cruzeiro, linked to long-term contracts awarded by Petrobras, are expected to be delivered in 2015 and 2016.