AWARDS 2024 | Best Derrick Layer – JSD6000 – Ulstein

Built in China to a very detailed Norwegian design, JSD6000 clearly illustrates the benefits of high-quality international co-operation. As you would expect with a vessel built for laying and burying substantial pipelines in 3,000 metres of water, she is a powerful, complex and very capable ship.

Her massive and extensive capabilities made her design a very challenging operation in and of itself. The finished ship, though, speaks for itself. It will operate globally and serve its experienced owners well through what will surely be a lengthy career.

"What makes this vessel truly unique, in addition to the revolving main crane with a 5,000-tonne lifting capacity, is the combination of the S-lay system via a centre firing line below the main deck and the J-lay system via a moonpool, located off-centre," Marian Rodriguez Suarez, Sales Manager at Ulstein Design and Solutions, told Baird Maritime.

"This is a distinctive feature in Ulstein Design and Solutions' designs, which allows for a large, unobstructed deck area and below-deck pipe fabrication."

The design process started off with a customisation of an existing Ulstein heavy lift vessel design to make JSD6000 suitable for intended operations of the client, resulting in a vessel design with a unique blend of heavy lift, S-lay and J-lay capabilities.

"JSD6000 is the third customised version of the design after Seven Borealis and Aegir," said Rodriguez.

For Jose Jorge Garca Agis, Managing Director of Ulstein International, decarbonisation is a trend driving vessel design, as evidenced by developments such as, "alternative fuels, smart hull design, and power setup and integrations."

"Global uncertainty in [the] market regarding financing, increased material cost, geopolitical tensions, [and a] limited workforce," are the trends that meanwhile impact vessel construction, according to Agis.

For a list of the 2024 "Best Of" award winners, please click here.