Offshore Vessel News Roundup | August 17 – French cable-layer, Norwegian unmanned craft order plus US and Qatari crewboat construction

A French operator takes delivery of a new cable-lay vessel while a Singaporean yard launches the first in a series of three crewboats destined for the Middle East. Construction starts on a new compact crewboat for deployment at US offshore wind farms. Finally, a Norwegian joint venture places an order for a new unmanned craft for inspection and maintenance work.

France’s Orange Marine welcomes cable-layer to fleet

French subsea company Orange Marine has taken delivery of a new cable-laying vessel built by Colombo Dockyard of Sri Lanka.

Named Sophie Germain, the 100-metre vessel was designed by Norway’s Vard Design in compliance to Bureau Veritas standards and French flag requirements.

The vessel has three cable tanks including one fitted with a carousel system. Accommodations are available for 76 personnel.

Nakilat SvitzerWijsmuller’s newest crewboat hits the water

Singapore shipbuilder Lita Ocean has launched the first in a new series of three crewboat ordered by Qatari offshore support vessel operator Nakilat SvitzerWijsmuller.

NSW Al Yamama and its two sisters will be operated as wellhead maintenance vessels to support the operations of QatarEnergy.

The Bureau Veritas-class vessel will be capable of transporting 40 personnel plus equipment at speeds of up to 24 knots. Facilities will include two lounges, two toilets, a mess, and sleeping quarters for the crew.

Construction starts on compact crewboat for Edison Chouest Offshore

US offshore vessel operator and builder Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) has launched construction of a new compact crewboat that will serve the US offshore wind industry.

Designed by UK-based Chartwell Marine, the vessel is scheduled to begin operating in the summer of 2024 to support the activities of Ørsted and US-based joint venture partner Eversource Energy.

Once completed, the crewboat will have a length of 12 metres and capacity for 12 personnel in addition to the crew. The vessel will be fitted with Ørsted’s proprietary motion-compensated hoist solution, which will enable technicians to safely transfer to and from offshore wind turbines without a ladder.

Norwegian joint venture taps Spanish yard for unmanned IMR vessel

USV AS, a joint venture formed by Norwegian companies DeepOcean, Solstad Offshore, and Østensjø Rederi, has awarded Spanish shipyard Astilleros Gondan a contract for the construction of an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) for inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) duties.

The USV will be 24 metres long and 7.5 metres wide. A hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system will allow the craft to operate offshore for up to 30 days without charging or refuelling.

The USV will be equipped with a work-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of operating down to 1,500 metres water depth.

The craft can operate either under remote control from shore or autonomously.