Netherlands-based Offshore Ship Designers (OSD) has sealed ten new design contracts for large diesel-electric platform supply vessels (PSVs) for two major offshore operators, to be built at three shipyards in Brazil, Japan and Spain.
Swire Pacific Offshore Operations has ordered four IMT-997 PSVs to be built by Universal Shipbuilding in Japan, and four sister vessels to be built at the EISA shipyard in Brazil. The 97-metre, 5,000DWT vessels will be classed with DP2 capability and have diesel-electric propulsion systems with azimuth propulsion units. The vessels will be delivered progressively from early 2014.
In addition, Craig Group's Northstar Shipping has ordered two IMT-982 PSVs to be built at Balenciaga in Spain. The 83-metre vessels have diesel-electric propulsion systems offering greater fuel efficiency. The vessels have an initial operating deadweight of 2,550DWT and a useable deck area of 912 square metres. The vessels are specially designed to operate at less than 5,000 tonnes displacement to work with older North Sea Structures where vessel size and weight restrictions apply, and will be also classed with DP2 capability.
