Saipem’s ‘Castoro Sei’ to lay TAP pipeline between Albania and Italy

Italian offshore contractor Saipem has secured a new contract related to the offshore section of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project.

The contract has been awarded by Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG, a joint venture between BP, SOCAR, Snam S.p.A., Fluxys, Enagás and Axpo.

The Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) contract involves the installation of a gas pipeline between the coastlines of Albania and Italy, across the Adriatic Sea.

Specifically, the activities envisaged by the contract include marine surveys, the installation of a 36” 105 km offshore gas pipeline, the supply and installation of an offshore fiber optic cable, pre-commissioning activities and civil works at the landfalls in both Albania and Italy. The landfall in Italy will be located at San Foca in Puglia and will be carried out using micro-tunnelling technology.

Offshore installation works, which at their deepest point will reach 820 meters below sea level, will be carried out using Saipem’s semi-submersible pipelay vessel Castoro Sei and the trench/pipelay barge Castoro 10. Works will commence in 2016.

Saipem did not reveal financial details of the contract.