Singapore: Hovertrans Solutions to Construct Heavy Lift Hoverbarge

Hovertrans Solutions Pte. Ltd. (Hovertrans Solutions), a leading designer and manufacturer of hoverbarges for heavy lift in difficult terrain in the global oil and gas, and specialist transportation industries, will be constructing a 50 tonne payload hoverbarge for charter. Measuring 34m x 17m, the modular hoverbarge with a 50 tonne payload and hover height of 1.8m, will be built by ST Marine.

This hoverbarge can be self propelled by adding two modular propulsion units. The hoverbarge is expected to be available for charter from third quarter 2011. Hovertrans Solutions is a subsidiary of ST Marine and was formed with experienced partners with 40 years of design and construction experience in the Hoverbarge marketplace.

This amphibious hoverbarge is capable of carrying cargo or equipment over swamps, wetlands, tundra, ice and shallow water, opening up exciting possibilities for oil and gas exploration and remote field development. A significant advantage of the hoverbarge is that it only exerts 1psi ground pressure whilst on hover, thus minimising any environmental footprint and in many cases will be the only platform that can be used for the tasks.

Manufactured from cold weather steel and with a specialised skirt system, this hoverbarge can operate in temperatures ranging from 40°C to -40°C. The hoverbarge is designed using a modular concept and involves connection of ISO container sized pontoon units and a skirt frame. This enables the hoverbarge to be shipped around the world using most conventional shipping, thus keeping transportation costs down for customers. Re-assembly and commissioning of the hoverbarge can be completed within a day. This modularity also opens up access for inland operations that require the use of a hoverbarge.

Hovertrans Solutions (Hovertrans Solutions Pte. Ltd.), a company registered in Singapore, is a subsidiary of ST Marine and led by a management team responsible for pioneering the heavy lift hoverbarge since the 1970’s.  With nearly 40 years of successful hoverbarge design, development and operation, Hovertrans Solutions is the best choice for heavy lift hoverbarges in difficult terrain in the global oil and gas, and specialist transportation industries.

ST Marine (Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd), the marine arm of ST Engineering, provides turnkey building, repair and conversion services for a wide spectrum of naval and commercial vessels. In shipbuilding, it has the proven capabilities to provide turnkey solutions from concept definition to detailed design, construction, on-board system installation and integration, testing, commissioning to through-life support. It has also established a track record in providing high engineering content shiprepair and ship conversion services for a worldwide clientele. ST Marine also provides a suite of sustainable environmental engineering solutions via its environmental engineering subsidiaries led by STSE Engineering Services Pte Ltd.

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Source:Hovertrans, March  8, 2011;