Ulstein

tODAYNO 1 2013. tODAY is a Newsletter withNew perspectives frOm UlsteiN GrOUp

a vessel Of versAtilitY

DeepwAter eNabler

innOvAtiOns awarded

fUrther Deeper cOlder

CONTENTS

5 a competitive alternative

5 long-term contract

6 further, Deeper, colDer

8 a vessel of versatility 10 first operational experiences

11 Deepwater enabler

12 the best match 14 equipment solutions 15 ulstein briDge vision™ - first proDuct contracteD

ULSTEIN TODAY NO 1 2013 PUbLIShED bY ulstein group asa, no-6067 ulsteinvik, tel: +47 7000 8000, www.ulstein.com EDITOR lene trude solheim ASSISTANT EDITOR tonje Øyehaug ruud CONTRIbUTORS helen eiken, nick wessels, alexandra de mare PRODUCTION tonje alvestad, portalia PRINTED AT tinDe Design & trykk as CIRCULATION 5,000

X-bOW® – A PATENTED PRODUCTthe inverted bow leads to reduced speed loss in waves. this provides higher transit speed or reduced power consumption, and hence im-proves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions to air. the bow shape eliminates slamming and leads to a more comfortable workplace.

commonly used abbreviations in this volume: PSV: platform supply vessel IMR: inspection, maintenance, repair ROV: remotely operated vehicleSURF: subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlinesAHC: active heave compensated RFO: ready for operations VLS: vertical lay system SPS: special purpose ship

FRONT PAGE ILLUSTRATION: offshore development goes further and deeper. subsea vessels play an important role in the construction and maintenance of subsea installations in deep waters. (illustration courtesy of NCE Subsea). PhOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS: Per Eide Studio (p. 3, 9, 13), Studio Alsvik (p. 3), ULSTEIN (p. 4-9, 11-14), CBO (p. 4 ), NCE Subsea (p. 6-7), FMC Technologies (p. 10), Aerolin (p. 10), Oslo School of Architecture and Design (p. 15), Stig B. Fiksdal (p. 15)

SPIRIT OF INNOVATION“for nearly a century, UlsteiN has been associated with innovation and quality. through our dedication to innovation and commitment to quality, we want to contribute to developing the maritime industry further in the years to come. together with partners we innovate for long-term competitiveness and sustainable marine operations,” say ceO Gunvor Ulstein and deputy ceO tore Ulstein.

UlsteiN’s vision is to create tomorrow’s solutions for sustainable marine operations. in august 2012 we launched the visionary and forward-looking concept UlsteiN bridGe visiON™. Our goal is to create a safer and smarter bridge for the future. the concept was met with enthusiasm by both customers and suppliers. we are currently developing the first products in this project. it was also a great inspiration to us when UlsteiN bridGe visiON won this year’s innovation award from dNb in stiff competition with 700 other innovative ideas.

however, smaller innovations less spoken of can also be crucial to significant developments of existing technology and improvements to products and solutions. these innovations can significantly increase safety, enhance cost effectiveness or reduce production costs. these are central goals for all innovations, small and large, in UlsteiN.

the state-of-the-art imr vessel ‘seven viking’ of our sX148 design delivered in January was developed in close collaboration with eidesvik, subsea 7 and statoil. she is now one of the nominees for the ship of the Year award in Norway. the joint experience and expertise of all parties involved resulted in innovative solutions and more efficient ways to carry out imr work. together we turned visions into reality.

we look forward to delivering new and exciting projects, including Gc rieber shipping’s sX121 offshore construction

vessel, which sets a new standard in operability with its Operation+ concept. island Offshore’s newbuild, also an sX121, is a multifunctional imr vessel capable of performing both well intervention and demanding offshore construction work. we believe these vessels will serve their owners well for many years to come.

in addition to this, we have developed a number of concept designs for several operators and owners, of which the psv designs pX105 and pX121 are very much in demand. Our first design for an installation support vessel for offshore wind farms is now being constructed at fjellstrand for siem Offshore. this is the first vessel of UlsteiN design to be built by an external yard in Norway. ‘seven borealis’ of our sOc5000 design was delivered at the beginning of 2012. it pleases us that the vessel, which was nominated Offshore ship of the Year, is referred to as a flagship for subsea7.

we also develop innovative solutions within areas such as deck handling, offshore wind and pipe-laying, to name a few. One of these concepts, the chain-type stinger handling system, was awarded the biannual irO innovation prize in april. the nominations and awards we receive is an inspiration to our long-term innovation efforts. we must continually strive to create a solid foundation on which we can develop world class products and services that are safer, smarter and greener. that will require a persistent spirit of innovation!

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the imr vessel ‘seven viking’ is nominated ‘ship of the Year 2013’ by the magazine ‘skipsrevyen’. she has been working for statoil in the North sea since february, and carries out a multitude of tasks including inspection, maintenance and repair (imr) of subsea oil installations, scale treatment and rfO operations. designed and constructed by UlsteiN, the vessel is owned by eidesvik Offshore and subsea 7.

OPTImISED FOR A VARIETY OF TASkS although restricted in size, the vessel is certainly not restricted in her capacity to carry a litany of essential subsea tools and personnel, thanks to a clever configuration whereby hull space is maximised and equipment is integrated within a large hangar area.

“she is a truly optimised vessel for her array of tasks,” states stuart fitzgerald, vice president Norway, subsea 7. “the vessel can carry all necessary maintenance equipment, ensuring that she can operate continually and meet any challenge, absolutely minimising operational down- time. in addition, she features a separate accommodation unit – positioned away from all active work areas – to ensure that the crew can rest without any disturbances.” OVERWhELmED“i am overwhelmed. being on board a brand-new vessel, i had expected some teething problems, but all systems are working smoothly. we’ve hardly had any disruptions in our work whatsoever,” says captain Jan tangenes from eidesvik Offshore.

STAbILITYthe vessel’s X-bOw® hull line design reduces motion in transit and gives increased stability in the rough weather that can be expected in the North sea. despite this enviable stability, something usually associated with size, the sX148 design from UlsteiN has been crafted to be compact in stature – measuring 106.5 metres by 24.5 metres.

“DELIVERS bEYOND EXPECTATIONS” “this is a fabulous vessel. we are main- taining a service speed of 16 knots in quite rough weather and we had no trouble with that. the comfort for personnel on board is very good. this is my first X-bOw vessel, and i am very pleased. she has delivered beyond my expectations so far,” says tangenes, adding: “i am really impressed.”

‘ShIP OF ThE YEAR’ NOmINEE:

‘Seven Viking’ is working for Statoil in the North Sea. She was named by the Mayor of Stavanger, Christine Sagen Helgø, here flanked by Captains Jan Tangenes (left) and Arvid Samdal.

GETS EXCELLENT FEEDbACk

“’seven viking’ is a quality product. the ship is tailor-made for imr operations and has unmatched technical and operational capacity within this sector. she operates in a most satisfactory way and our client is very pleased. she has become a talking point within the oil and gas sector,” states subsea 7’s Offshore manager, vidar Øvstedal.

TODAY no. 1/2013 3

the psvs have a large cargo deck area of approximately 950 m2, and comply with petrobras’ requirements for a deadweight of 4,500 tonnes (psv 4500 tender). “the ships are adapted to petrobras’ exacting specifications to ensure flexible transport of bulk and general cargo to installations offshore. the vessels are designed with standard dedicated tanks as well as with hybrid tanks (cargomaxx), the latter of which can combine dry bulk and liquid bulk. together with the product tank configurations this leads to a major increase and flexibility in cargo capacity, and ensures safe and efficient loading and discharging,” says project manager ingar Kaldhol in Ulstein design & solutions, who has cooperated closely with the yard.

captain raul ramide on board ‘cbO flamengo’, which entered operations in august 2012, reports: “i have been captain on board several ships, and this design adds

maneuverability, reliability, economy and comfort. i’m sure that cbO was right to choose this type of vessel.” cbO’s production manager, marcelo martins, explains their choice of design: “we found this design the most adequate for our needs, which were flexibility and large size.” cbO (companhia brasileira de Offshore) is a subsidiary of fischer s/a comercio industria e agricultura, and owns the estaleiro aliança yard.

Built by Estaleiro Aliança, ‘CBO Copacabana’ is one of two vessels of the PX105 design delivered to CBO in 2012.

“Flexibility and large size are important qualities for us,” says CBO’s production manager, Marcelo Martins.

siem Offshore has contracted the construction of an installation support vessel (isv) of the sX163 design at fjellstrand, Norway, with an option for an additional vessel.

the 74-metre-long and 17-metre-wide vessel can accommodate 60 persons and has been developed through a close cooperation between siem Offshore and UlsteiN.

designed for specific tasks in wind farms in the North sea as well as in the atlantic, and equipped with cranes, the vessel will be used for installation, repair, main-tenance and general service duties within the offshore renewable energy market and the offshore oil and gas market.

Once the vessel has reached her operating site, personnel can safely cross to the offshore units by using a heave compensated gangway. a diesel electric propulsion system and two voith schneider rudder ecs propeller units will ensure excellent performance with respect to fuel efficiency, speed and sea and station keeping. the stable position of the vessel permits work to be carried out on the 200 m2 work deck, as well as close to the wind farms, even in adverse weather conditions.

the ship is scheduled for delivery in march 2014.

WhEN FLEXIbILITY mATTERS

INSTALLATION SUPPORT VESSEL FOR SIEm

cbO currently owns and operates two large pX105 vessels, both working on eight-year contracts for petrobras. the design was chosen due to its size and flexibility.

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the high-capacity vessel is based on UlsteiN’s sX121 design, which is designed for operations in harsh conditions and deep waters. the ship can accommodate 130 persons, and complies with the latest international environmental standards.

the vessel is built to the highest standard for dynamic positioning, dp3, and is equipped with a 250-tonne ahc offshore crane. the ship is designed to operate in the sUrf market, with capacity for flexible pipe loads below deck and on main deck and a vertical pipelaying system above the moon pool. it can also carry two rOvs.

Gc rieber’s technical director, bjørn valberg, comments on the design: “One of our main reasons for choosing

the sX121 design was its inherent flexibility, which allows several types of operations and enables us to operate in a wider range of market segments. the fact that we on this vessel can utilise the 250-tonne crane to the maximum of its capability both in offshore and subsea lifts was another deciding factor.”

ceona will equip the vessel with a 270-tonne vls which is capable of installing flexible pipe and umbilicals in up to 3,000 metres water depth.ceona’s chief executive, steve preston, said: “we are very pleased to award the contract to Gc rieber’s new vessel, which will be an excellent addition to our fleet.”

“this is a design that combines low fuel oil consumption with high carrying capacity at an attractive price,” says Ove dimmen, area sales manager in Ulstein design & solutions.

“we wanted to come up with a design for a smaller psv that could support barges and rigs in a more economical way than the traditional offshore support vessel, both in terms of building cost and operational costs,” says dimmen.

his team and he have developed the UlsteiN p128 with good input from Kuma shipping, amongst others. the hong Kong-based company ordered the basic design from UlsteiN, and the vessels will be constructed at a chinese shipyard with sufficient experience. the vessels are planned for delivery in 2014.

the vessels measure 71.5 metres by 15 metres, and have a deadweight of approximately 3,000 tonnes. the 610 m2 work deck can accommodate four lengths of 12 metre-long casing pipes and is enclosed by plate covered crash barriers providing increased safety for crew and cargo. the discharge systems have been

designed for safe and efficient loading and discharging of several dry and wet bulk cargoes simultaneously. dp2 and automation system for machinery and cargo handling will contribute to safe and efficient vessel’s operation. the vessels will be arranged and equipped for 24 persons.

Kuma shipping has ordered two ships of the new p128 design, a design developed to serve the general psv market related to work-over barges and jack-up rigs.

“A COmPETITIVE ALTERNATIVE”

LONG-TERm CONTRACTGc rieber shipping has entered into a charter agreement with ceona for its high-capacity subsea newbuild for a fixed period of five years, with options for up to five years. the vessel will commence work for ceona immediately upon delivery in the first quarter of 2014.

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“The Sx121 vessel is a compact vessel for deep water operations,” states sales manager Lars Ståle Skoge (left) and senior naval architect Bjørnar Hatløy in Ulstein Design & Solutions.

SX121 FOR SUbSEA

“the typical sX121 vessel operates at depths down to 3,000 metres, which comprises most current oil activities. New market research shows a great interest in Ocv/imr vessels with a 400-tonne crane, due to the need to deploy heavier equipment in deep waters such as offshore africa and brazil, and in the Gulf of mexico,” states skoge.

senior naval architect bjørnar hatløy continues: “we have drawn on experiences from our latest sX121 projects, and optimised the utilisation of the hull with regards to work from deck as well as crane construction work, resulting in an even more versatile Ocv/imr vessel. this

robust platform is optimised for efficient deep water operations from previous 250-tonne@15 metres to 400-tonne@15 metres crane capacity and a substantial remaining deck loading capacity, and can be configured for a variety of mission equipment. there is a very large deck area of 1,750 m2, and the area around the main moon pool is reinforced in order to sustain a vls or module handling system. the rOv installation is designed and chosen for operations in minimum 4.5 metres significant wave height. two heavy duty work rOvs are situated in the enclosed hangar, one to be deployed from starboard side, the other through a dedicated moon pool. finally, the helideck is drawn backwards to increase the weather window for helicopter landings.”

EXTENDED REDUNDANCY“the vessel meets the highest standard for position keeping, dYNpOs-aUtrO, with redundancy on all major components. featuring the ‘Operation+’ concept, an increase in redundancy in aUtr operations if a single major failure occurs, the vessel will still maintain system redundancy throughout the most critical areas. the typical configuration is diesel electric propulsion powered by six identical medium speed main generator sets, and the vessel can keep a speed of up

Innovative subsea technology brings future oil and gas exploration further from shore and into deeper and colder waters. ULSTEIN’s goal is to deliver products and solutions that support this development, and our focus is on increasing the safety and the operational window and reducing the environmental footprint. The latest version of the SX121 design, which has proven to be a versatile and flexible subsea platform, includes a 400-tonne AHC offshore crane for deep water work.

“we aim to develop platforms that can continue operations in harsh conditions. high operability is extremely important, and the vessels must be safe and comfortable work places even in heavy seas. the robust configuration, system integration and the X-bOw® hull line, ensure safety and comfort on board the sX121 vessels, and lead to significantly reduced environmental impact,” says sales manager lars ståle skoge in Ulstein design & solutions.

currently, there are four sailing sX121 vessels and two under construction. the sailing vessels operate in different segments such as offshore construction, riserless well intervention and inspection/ maintenance/repair. the feedback on the vessels has been excellent. Gordon l. wilkinson in veolia es said the following about ‘viking poseidon’’s work in the Gulf of mexico: “she is the Queen of the Gulf.”

OPTImISED FOR hEAVIER INSTALLATIONS“this is a compact vessel that can perform deep water operations for which larger vessels are frequently used, giving the customer a cost-efficient solution,” says sales manager lars ståle skoge in Ulstein design & solutions.

FURThERDEEPER COLDER

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to 15 knots depending on propulsion system. the switchboard system, propellers and diesel motors can be configured in groups of two, three or four. if a major failure occurs, the vessel will only lose one third of its power and propulsion. the combination of system architecture and power stations, three side thrusters and three main thrusters, ensures that the operation can be safely completed using two thirds of its capacity,” says hatløy, adding:“furthermore, the vessel accommodates a crew of 130 and complies with all international requirements for comfort and safety. in order to optimise capacities and performance of the vessel, the freeboard is increased from the previous built vessels

SX121 FACTSBeam: 25m Length: typically 130m Draught: 8m Deadweight: Up to 10,000t sps code and mlc 2009

by 1 metre which, in addition to the above, results in increased safety and ensures a dry work deck. the vessel has good motion characteristics for safe operations.”

GOOD VALUE“through being compact and optimised for deep water operations, this vessel meets a market demand. with optimised resolution of the power

generation plant, she will have high fuel efficiency in all operational modes. this ship will give the owner good value for money,” concludes skoge.

TODAY no. 1/2013 7

“this ship is customised to meet island Offshore’s functional requirements and wishes, which are based on their experience from these types of operations,” says håvard stave, who is sales manager at Ulstein verft.“the vessel can be outfitted for riserless well intervention with an intervention tower. she is also prepared for the laying of flexible pipes and cables on the seabed through a vls tower. there is space for a rotating carousel below deck with a capacity to load 2,500 tonnes,” comments stave.

AT ThE FOREFRONTthe 130-metre-long and 25-metre-wide ship will have the highest standard of dynamic positioning (dp3) and will be equipped to perform subsea operations at depths down to 3,000 metres. “island Offshore aims to be at the forefront of the market, offering the best vessels and crews to our clients,” says technical manager trond hauge in island Offshore, continuing: “it is our policy to search for optimum solutions and strive for a performance that is better than the industry average. based on the increasing demand for advanced subsea/construction/maintenance tonnage we opted for a design and a yard that we know well. we already have two sX121 vessels in our fleet; ‘island constructor’ (2008), and ‘island intervention’ (2010). we have received very good feedback from our clients on these vessels’ performance in complex operations in the North sea,

and we are confident that this type of vessel is a safe and comfortable platform for the performance of advanced work in the years to come,” states hauge.

hIGh FREEbOARDthe ship is designed with a large cargo deck for transport of equipment for a multitude of operations:

“from the offshore crane pedestal and forward, the deck is lifted to a deck level to achieve a high freeboard around the 8 by 8-metre main moon pool. this increases the weather window for moon pool operations and gives space for various equipment below this shelter deck. arranged on the shelter deck is a multi-skidding system rated for handling 100-tonne skidding pallets,” says stave.

250-TONNE AhC CRANEan ahc offshore crane with a 250 tonnes capacity at 14 metres outreach and a below-deck winch will be installed on board. the vessel will carry two deep-sea work rOvs, one to be launched from the starboard side and one through a dedicated rOv moon pool in the centreline of the ship.

POWER AND PROPULSIONthe power plant comprises six large generator sets. the ship will be equipped with diesel electric propulsion and three main azimuth thrusters. two resiliently mounted (super silent) tunnel thrusters and a swing-up azimuth thruster are installed in the bow.

A VESSEL OF VERSATILITYNorway-based Island Offshore and their American partner Edison Chouest Offshore chose ULSTEIN for their latest subsea fleet expansion. Based on the SX121 design, this multifunctional SPS vessel will be prepared and tailored for the RLWI, IMR and SURF segments.

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hIGhEST COmFORT CLASSthe vessel, with a crew capacity of 130, is scheduled for delivery in may 2014. she will be built in accordance with the latest international environmental and safety requirements and meet the most stringent hse requirements on the Norwegian continental shelf as well as regulations for floating oil and gas installations. the vessel is adapted to mOU regulations, including fire safety in accommodation areas, and gas detection and emergency shutdown systems on deck. she also carries the highest comfort class, cOmf-v(1). in the event of evacuation, both the starboard and port side life boat can accommodate the entire crew.

ISLAND OFFShORE ADDS ANOThER mULTIFUNCTIONAL OFFShORE VESSEL OF ThE SX121 DESIGN FROm ULSTEIN TO ThEIR FLEET.

“This vessel will be a safe and comfortable platform for the performance of advanced work.” Trond Hauge, technical manager, Island Offshore

“The ship is customised to meet Island Offshore’s requirements, which are based on their experience from these types of operations.” Håvard Stave, sales manager, Ulstein Verft

ISLAND OFFShOREisland Offshore: established in 2004 and has a modern fleet of 22 advanced offshore service vessels and 7 under construction. the company is headquartered in Ulsteinvik, Norway.

EDISON ChOUEST OFFShORE founded in 1960 and operates a fleet of more than 200 vessels. the company is headquartered in Galliano, louisiana, Usa.

TODAY no. 1/2013 9

FIRST OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCES

‘SEVEN bOREALIS’

the deepwater construction vessel ‘aegir’, built for heerema marine contractors, arrived in rotterdam, the Netherlands, in march 2013 for her final outfitting of the lay system.

‘aegir’ is fully customised according to heerema’s operational requirements for deepwater rigid pipelaying and will be equipped with both J-lay and reellay capabilities via a large 28 by 11-metre moon pool. One of the other distinctive features is a 4,000-tonne main crane located at the starboard aft quarter for

loading pipe reels from supply barges, allowing the vessel to stay offshore instead of sailing back and forth to a spoolbase.

“based on the UlsteiN sOc 5000 design, we have been able to quickly develop both the concept and basic design for heerema’s vessel,” says edwin van leeuwen, general manager in Ulstein sea of solutions.

‘aegir’ was built at the dsme yard in Korea.

‘AEGIR’ FOR FINAL OUTFITTING

in december 2012 subsea 7’s state-of-the-art pipelay and heavy lift dp vessel ‘seven borealis’ started on her first assignment for total e&p on the clOv project offshore angola.

this deepwater construction vessel, nominated ship of the Year by

the magazine Offshore support Journal, measures 182.2 metres by 46.2 metres, has s-lay and J-lay capabilities and a main crane capacity of 5,000 tonnes. she performs very well, according to phil thomas, subsea 7 project manager. “i am impressed with the ship. Ulstein sea of solutions has lived up to their statement that a vessel shall never be the limiting factor in an operation. the vessel has proven a very sound platform for the work we are doing.”

the clOv development includes four reservoirs, and development work is carried out in water depths ranging from 1,000-1,400 metres. the installation programme includes J-lay of pipe-in-pipe production flowlines, gas export and water injection lines, and installation of a gas export single hybrid riser and manifolds.in 2014, ‘seven borealis’ will commence work on the gas field martin linge in the North sea, 180 kilometres west of bergen, Norway.

The CLOV development consists of four fields: Cravo, Lirio, Orquidea and Violeta, located offshore Angola.

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WITh ThE FUTURE IN mIND

DEEPWATER ENAbLER

the dp3 vessel is designed for worldwide operations in the oil and gas sector, ultra deepwater installation and construction, flexible lay, pipelay, cable lay and topside construction support. the design has been developed for maximum efficiency and cost effectiveness featuring heavy lift capabilities with active heave compensation, two moon pools, up to 50t/m2 deck strength and the X-bOw.

the vessel design includes a number of key features that give maximum capability and flexibility. these features include an ahc offshore crane rated at 900 tonnes swl (safe working load) with a depth capability of 3,500 metres, and a 200-tonne swl knuckleboom crane with a 2,000 metres depth capability. furthermore, the vessel can accommodate a 550-tonne flex lay tower over the main 8.4 by 8.4-metre moon pool, and two 2,500-tonne-capacity carousels below deck. there is an enclosed rOv hangar for deployment of two large work class deepwater rOvs to port and starboard sides or through a

central moon pool. this moon pool is also arranged to allow the deployment of a deck mounted saturation diving bell. the vessel is delivered with all necessary interfaces to service both rOvs and the saturation dive system.

full compliance with the sps code is a fundamental principle of the design, which includes arrangements to meet comfort class cOmf-v(3), the highest working environment standard. accommodation for 250 persons is provided.

the deck area of approximately 2,900 m2 is designed to give optimised clear space for the installation of project equipment such as pipelay spreads, and for the carriage and deployment of heavy offshore equipment.the deck has been strengthened to withstand up to 50t/m2 in key areas.

“the good and very close cooperation with both toisa and hhi has resulted in a very versatile vessel design,” says bram lambregts.

TOISA FIRST TO ORDER

the deepwater enabler design introduces the next step up in multi-purpose offshore construction vessels. the design will help owners keep pace with the changing and evermore demanding requirements of the fast- growing deepwater segment.

“what makes this vessel unique is that she has been developed with future requirements in mind,” says bram lambregts, marketing and sales manager in Ulstein sea of solutions.

the main dimensions of the basic design are 160 by 32 metres, allowing the design to cope with the increased crane capacities required for tomorrow’s subsea construction operations. the vessel can accomodate crane capacities up to 900 tonnes, while the vessel lay-out is suitable to meet both sps and mOdU code requirements.

“since introducing the design to the market, we have developed several customised versions for both the subsea construction market as well as the offshore wind industry,” says bob rietveldt, managing director in Ulstein sea of solutions. “besides owners, we also see a great interest from shipyards, as this design will allow them to enter new market segments. it’s a flexible design that can accommodate different mission equipment packages, and hence creates opportunities for a good rate of return in the marketplace.”

toisa was the first to order a customised deepwater enabler newbuild, at hyundai heavy industries (hhi) in Korea. this is the largest vessel with the X-bOw® so far, featuring a main crane capacity of 900 tonnes.

TODAY no. 1/2013 11

“When Britoil decided to expand into the PSV market, there was no doubt in our minds that the best match for our criteria was ULSTEIN’s PX121 design with the well-known X-BOW®,” says Stephen J. Hill, Corporate Manager in Britoil.

bRITOIL ChOSE PX121

“ThE bEST mATCh”

the construction of two vessels of the pX121 design at britoil’s own yard is the first step in the company’s plans to build a fleet of platform supply vessels. the vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2015. bEST mATCh“we are looking to operate our psvs in the australian, indian or south east asian markets, and we therefore had talks with oil companies in these regions to gain their reactions to potential ship designs. from their feedback, we saw that the most optimal vessel would be one that combines fuel efficiency and deadweight in the best possible way, and in our opinion, the design that best matches these criteria is the medium-sized pX121,” says hill.

the X-bOw® offers efficiency over a wide draught range, which is important for psvs as they frequently operate with varying loads.

the two vessels are customised according to britoil’s requirements, with one extra accommodation deck, allowing for a total complement of 50 persons. in addition, they are prepared for rOv and ahc installations. the ships will be built according to imO’s sps code (to carry special personnel), and will have Oilrec class notation (oil spill recovery in emergency situations, with defined tanks for oil storage).

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STRONG bRAND, PROVEN DESIGNthe singapore registered company britoil has a fleet of 40 anchor handling/tow tugs (aht) and cargo barges.

“for the company to grow further and to be prepared for future market changes, we’ve decided that diversifying into the psv segment is an ideal opportunity for us. the vessels will be built at our own yard, pt britoil Offshore indonesia on the island of batam,” says hill, and continues: “3d modelling (engineering) and constructing the two pX121 vessels will give us competence and experience in building psvs. Our strategy is to build these two vessels and then, within the next five years, expand that fleet to at least six vessels,” states hill. REWARDING VISITbefore the construction of the two vessels commenced in Q2 2013, stephen hill visited UlsteiN’s yard in

Norway, Ulstein verft, to observe first-hand the shipyard’s construction of vessels of the same design.

hill’s visit was rewarding: “i was reassured by witnessing a very professional organisation which takes pride in what they do. my visit to the workshops confirmed that the quality of the workmanship of the equipment that UlsteiN is supplying, such as switchboards, is of the high standard i was expecting. i was also very pleased to visit the ‘blue power’ while she was on sea trial. it was a great opportunity for me to see a completed pX121, and the vessel confirmed my initial conviction that this design is the right one for us,” concludes stephen hill. the contract with UlsteiN comprises a comprehensive equipment package including basic design, engineering support, main equipment and a large power and control package supplied by UlsteiN.

the px121 design, a medium-sized psv, has struck a chord in the market. ulstein’s goal was to present a vessel with capacities, and performance, close to the segment for larger psvs, but at a cost that provides excellent value-for-money for the owner and operator. britoil, vroon and blue ship invest have recently ordered ten vessels of this design between them. the first three, owned by blue ship invest, are already in operation.

“When we decided to enter the PSV market, we wanted to go in with a strong brand and a proven design – hence ULSTEIN and the PX121,” says Stephen J. Hill. the latest px121 contracts went to china’s

cosco (guangdong) shipyard, that will build two vessels for the Dutch shipowner vroon with an option for two additional vessels.

for ulstein, this means the delivery of design, electrical power equipment and automation systems to cosco. the platform supply vessels are planned for delivery early in 2015 and are intended for operation in european waters by vroon offshore services.

vroon operates and manages a diverse fleet of approximately 160 vessels.

VROON CONTRACTS COSCO

A mARkET hIT

TODAY no. 1/2013 13

ImPROVES PIPE-LAYING

PILE GRIPPER FRAmES DELIVERED

EQUIPmENT SOLUTIONS

Ulstein idea equipment solutions has recently delivered two pile gripper frames (pGf) to Offshore wind force Jv. the pGfs will be used for the installation of mono-pile foundations in the west of

duddon sands wind farm project offshore UK.

the customised pile gripper frames combine smart engineering with the

market demand and opportunities for operational improvements to existing solutions led Ulstein idea equipment solutions to develop the award-winning chain-type stinger handling system. the compact system improves both the vessel design and pipe-lay operations. currently, this innovative concept is being customised for three different companies on three different continents.

two distinct developments can be observed in today’s offshore construction

market. firstly, exploration and production in increasingly deeper waters will continue to push the boundaries of existing technologies, and innovative solutions will be required to enable construction at increased water depths. secondly, the operators are trying to optimise the utilisation of existing or smaller assets by using smart equipment to perform at a lower cost.

deepwater infield pipelines are forecast to grow more than 15% per year between

2012 and 2017. deeper waters require the stinger and its handling system to operate at higher loads.

most offshore construction vessels (derrick lay vessels) used for the installation of sub-sea pipelines have both pipe-lay and heavy-lift functionalities.

the chain-type stinger handling system provides a new level of simplicity and performance for demanding pipe laying operations with its cutting edge solution that includes a superior chain type and a customised sprocket. a major benefit of the concept is the substantially reduced time it takes to install or dismount the chain system, compared to the time required to install or dismount a standard cable system. Other important benefits are increased overall operational uptime of the vessel, the considerable higher capability to absorb up-lift and the simple control system.

recently, the concept was awarded the biannual irO innovation prize (irO = association of dutch suppliers in the Oil and Gas industry.)

latest in control technology, and are unique in that they are retractable, and the lower weight of their design makes them more cost-effective. the pile gripper frames are designed and built for operations in harsh weather conditions and will hold the mono-pile foundations securely in place whilst they are being hammered into the seabed.

“we are grateful to Offshore wind force for entrusting us with this project. Our close cooperation with them and our subcontractors in all phases of the project, from engineering and procurement through to construction and installation has resulted in a quality end product with several unique attributes,” says arjan boezeman, director of concepts and sales in Ulstein idea equipment solutions.

ULSTEIN 14

several products are under way, and the first one to be commercialised is the bridge watch monitoring and alarm system, UlsteiN bridge alarm system. by combining visual and audible indication of alarms, all equipment on the bridge making an audible alarm shall be connected to the bridge alarm system. the system features bridge watch monitoring, the so-called “dead man” system, for detection of unattended bridge or operator disability based on interval checking. it also includes an alarm transfer to specific locations outside the bridge to alert and call the master and back-up navigator, automatically initiated in case the bridge alarms are not attended to or an operator disability is detected.

Ulstein bridge vision is a concept for the modern ship bridge, where safety in complex operations has been given major attention. with an aim to create better, safer and simpler solutions for ships’ crews, the concept offers a catalogue of user-focused innovations, including: Gesture-controlled infographics displayed on bridge windows; a system that automatically adapts to the individual user’s preferred setup; and a new breed of user-defined ergonomic work stations. UlsteiN bridGe visiON is a cooperative effort between UlsteiN and Oslo school of architecture and design.

ULSTEIN bRIDGE VISION™

FIRST PRODUCT CONTRACTED

in august 2012, Ulstein Group launched their bold and innovative concept for the future bridge, UlsteiN bridGe visiON™. Now, the first product, UlsteiN bridge alarm system™, has been introduced to the market. the system has been contracted for the Gc rieber shipping’s subsea vessel, and all six psvs in the blue ship invest fleet, of which ‘blue thunder’ (delivery may 2013) was the first.

DNB’s Innovation Award 2012 of NOK 1 million was awarded to ULSTEIN’s concept bridge, ULSTEIN BRIDGE VISION.

ulstein briDge vision is about simplifying, being more efficient, and creating better and safer working conditions on the bridge.

the jury emphasised that the idea will help to significantly improve hse (health, safety, environment) standards, whereby both people and property will be better protected.

Dnb’s ceo, rune bjerke, commented: “it is important for Dnb to help good ideas develop into successful value creation, and we have great faith in the business potential of this year’s winner.”

Dnb is norway’s largest financial services group and one of the world’s leading shipping banks. 700 ideas were received for the contest.

Bridge Manager in ULSTEIN, Arne Ove Rødstøl, received the NOK 1 million Prize from Chair of the Jury, Berit Kjøll (left) and CEO in DNB, Rune Bjerke (right).

AWARDED bEST INNOVATION IDEA

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