Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group (SINOPACIFIC) Zhejiang Shipyard started the construction of E169 rock installation vessel, the first of its kind in the world.

Since signing the shipbuilding deal with Van Oord of the Netherlands last September, SINOPACIFIC has already initiated activities related to engineering, procurement and construction of E169 Rock Installation Vessel.

According to Van Oord, the vessel, which has a DP-3 (dynamic positioning) system, will be suitable for installation of a wide range of rock sizes through a fall pipe or a tremie pipe at the side of the vessel. With a deadweight of 14,000 tons, a length of 154 metres and a beam of 28 metres, the vessel can operate in water depths of more than 600 meters. There is accommodation on board for 60 people.

To mark the start of shipbuilding for this new vessel, Simon Liang, Chairman and CEO of SINOPACIFIC, said: “There is still a long way to go for Chinese shipbuilders to establish equal dialogue and effective communication with the senior ‘players’ in this field. Therefore, to narrow this gap, SINOPACIFIC has been constantly intensifying its EPCC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning) capability to be able to offer sophisticated offshore solutions to customers in the near future.”

Image: Van Oord