Netherlands-based Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC) is planning to order new design of offshore crane vessel which is likely to cost about US$1bn.
Company CEO John Reed says: “A new generation, deepwater construction vessel is needed to meet the demands of the national and international oil companies. Market developments and needs from customers, as well as our current market position are strong drivers behind the decision to proceed with the design of a new vessel.”
According to the company the design of the vessel will begin immediately and will be fast tracked. A tender to select the best shipbuilding yard, which will likely be in Korea or China, will take place “in the near future”.
Heerema says: The new vessel will be exceptional in various aspects: speed, hull shape, pipe lay features in deepwater and shallow water, crane possibilities and capabilities to work in the Arctic.
The size of the vessel will be approximately 220m x 88m. The lift capacity of the cranes has to be determined, but will at least be comparable to the capacity of the Thialf. The dual crane capacity of Thialf, the largest crane vessel in the world and part of HMC’s fleet, is 14,200 tons.