Navantia constructing “floatel” for Mexico

Spanish shipyard Navantia is constructing a floating hotel for the Gulf of Mexico's offshore oil and gas industry.

Once delivered, Mexican oil company Pemex will operate the vessel, providing considerable offshore accommodation facilities for up to 700 oil and gas personnel.

On board amenities will include leisure areas, a conference room, offices, workshops, a gym, a healthcare area (with sickbay and consulting rooms), and kitchen and dining room facilities.

The floatel will also have two large 20-metre cranes, each with the capacity to hoist up to 20 tonnes.

The vessel will be equipped with a telescopic gangway to allow the employees to safely and easily pass from the floatel to the offshore operating facilities, and a heli-deck will be provided for transport to shore.

The 7,000-tonne vessel will measure 131.2 metres in length, with a beam of 27 metres.

Steel plates for the vessel will be supplied by ArcelorMittal Spain, and the vessel will have a delivery date of mid-2016.