VARD has announced the signing of new contracts with joint ventures of DOF Subsea and Technip for the design and construction of four pipe lay support vessels (PLSVs).
The contracts constitute the largest order in VARD's history, with an aggregate order value of approximately USD1.1 billion (NOK6.5 billion).
Two of the vessels, of VARD 3 05 design, will be delivered in the second and third quarters of 2016 respectively. The hulls of these vessels will be built at Vard Tulcea in Romania and outfitted at Vard Søviknes in Norway. The other two vessels, of VARD 3 16 design, will be delivered from Vard Promar in Brazil in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
The new designs have been developed in close co-operation with DOF and Technip. The Norwegian-built vessels will carry pipe lay towers rated at 650 tonnes, among the largest ever in the industry.
At 340 tonnes, the Brazilian-built vessels will be among the most complex vessels ever constructed in Brazil. Topside equipment for all four ships will be delivered by Huisman of the Netherlands.
