Fourth vessel order for Seajacks

The latter order lifted the number of similar vessels entrusted to Lamprell by Seajacks to four. Great Yarmouth UK based Seajacks was acquired earlier this year from Riverstone Holdings by Marubeni Corporation and the Innovation Network of Japan INCJ. At the time of the newbuilding order announcement it was stated the new owners are already working on the design and specification of vessel number five.

The latest order is an Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract, valued at US$ 120.9m for a modified GustoMSC NG2500X self-elevating, self-propelled vessel to be named Seajacks Hydrafor operation in the offshore oil and gas and offshore wind turbine installation and maintenance markets. Construction will take place at Lamprell’s Hamriyah facility with delivery due in 2014. The vesselwill have a design weight exceeding 7,000 tonnes and a payload capacity of 1,400 tonnes. The specification includes DP capability, a speed of eight knots, a 400 tonne crane and accommodation for 100 personnel.

Seajacks clearly has faith in the designes of Netherlands based GustoMSC, a company that traces its roots back to 1862. The first example, Seajacks Kraken, was delivered early in 2009 and initially fulfilled an accommodation/support role in Halifax for ExxonMobil. Following a well intervention project in the Dutch sector of the North Sea, it switched to wind turbine installation duties for DONG Energy at Walney Windfarm. Seajacks Leviathanfollowed later the same year and among its first assignments was a 15 month contract with Fluor for work on the Greater Gabbard Offshore Windfarm. Both these examples are GustoMSC NG2500 self-elevating, self-propelled vessels of 76m LOA, for operation in water depths to 48m, and including a 300 tonne capacity crane

The larger GustoMSC NG5500C version was selected for the third vessel, Seajacks Zaratan, taking the fleet capabilities to another level. With a waterline length of 81m and able to operate in water depths of 55m, a notable difference is the leg encircling main crane, boasting a maximum lift of 800 tonnes. Again, it has flexibility of use in either the oil and gas or offshore wind markets. Seajacks Zaratanwas delivered by Lamprell in May 2012 and recently arrived in Rotterdam’s Caland Canal on the deck of COSCO’s semi-submersible heavy lift ship Xiang Rui Kouon completion of its delivery voyage. An early commission will be installing turbines, alongside the Seajacks Leviathanat Germany’s Meerwind Windfarm.

The steady growth of Seajacks, along with careful vessel selection, will clearly put it in the position of addressing the potentially huge demands of the windfarm industry in coming years, along with the option of working in the oil and gas sector.

By Peter Barker