IHC Merwede Builds Three Pipelaying Vessels Simultaneously (The Netherlands)

IHC Merwede is building three 550t pipelaying vessels simultaneously at its Krimpen aan den IJssel yard in The Netherlands. The keel-laying ceremony for the first of two identical 550t pipelaying vessels for TL Offshore, a subsidiary of SapuraKencana, took place on Tuesday 15 January.

This event was held one week ahead of the original schedule and was performed by Darryl Peter Nelson, Project Director with TL Offshore.

IHC Merwede began the steel-cutting work on the second TL Offshore pipelaying vessel directly after the ceremony. For the first vessel, for Subsea 7, almost the full hull is now on the slipway, following its keel-laying ceremony in August 2012. All three pipelaying vessels are therefore well under way and on schedule for delivery in 2014.

Both vessels for SapuraKencana are fully integrated pipelaying vessels completely designed, engineered and built by IHC Merwede. The pipelaying spread is supplied by IHC Merwede’s subsidiary IHC Engineering Business. In January IHC Engineering Business will also start steel cutting for the tower structure of the pipelaying spread. IHC Drives & Automation is responsible for the delivery of the integrated automation system, the full electrical installation and the complete electrical machinery package for both vessels.

The three vessels will be used to install flexible pipelines in Brazilian waters, in accordance with Petrobras’ contracts for the charter and operation of pipelaying vessels.