The Netherlands: Keel Laid for New Pipe Layer

The keel-laying ceremony for the 550t pipelaying vessel for Subsea 7 took place recently at IHC Merwede’s yard in Krimpen aan den IJssel (The Netherlands). IHC Merwede’s contract with Subsea 7 is for the design, engineering and construction of a new advanced pipelaying vessel, which will have an overall length of 146 metres, a beam of 30 metres and a Class-2 dynamic positioning system.

Subsea 7 selected IHC Merwede due to its efficiency and reliability in delivering four previous orders on time.

The keel-laying ceremony was held on August 22, one month ahead of the original schedule. Delivery of the vessel will be in the first half of 2014, as planned.

This pipelaying vessel will be used to develop deep-sea oilfields off the coast of Brazil on behalf of Petrobras. On 27-28 September a Petrobras delegation visited the Krimpen aan den IJssel yard and they were suitably impressed by the facility and the progress of the overall project.

[mappress]

Press Release, October 16, 2012; Image: ihc