Offshore Vessel News Roundup | December 29 – Drillship delivery, CSOV launch and Chinese and UK crewboat orders

A large drillship will soon begin operations in the Gulf of Mexico while a Chinese renewables support company expands its crew transfer fleet. A windfarm maintenance support vessel ordered by Norwegian owners is launched into the water for the first time. Lastly, a UK operator taps a local shipyard for the construction of a catamaran crewboat.

Transocean acquires second drillship in series

Transocean has taken delivery of the second drillship in a series ordered from Singapore-based shipbuilder Sembcorp Marine.

Like earlier sister Deepwater Atlas, Deepwater Titan was designed to be capable of 20,000psi drilling and completion operations and to operate at 12,000 feet (3,657 metres) water depth and drill to depths of 40,000 feet (12,192 metres). The hook-load hoisting capacity is rated at three million pounds (1,360 tonnes).

Deepwater Titan will be deployed to the Gulf of Mexico in early 2023 to operate under a five-year charter with Chevron.

China’s Goldsea Marine welcomes new crewboat to fleet

Chinese operator Goldsea Marine and Offshore Engineering Shanghai has taken delivery of a new catamaran crewboat from local builder AFAI Southern Shipyard.

Yu Feng Zhe 001 was designed specifically for offshore conditions in China. The main deck features four crew cabins, two bathrooms, and a large technician seating area with refreshment space.

Also provided are internal storage for equipment and a large foredeck cargo zone.

The 32-metre crewboat has a top speed of 25 knots, capacity for 12 technicians and 10 tonnes of cargo, and equipment for ensuring safe crew transfers even in wave heights in excess of two metres.

Edda Wind’s newest CSOV launched in Spain

Spanish shipbuilder Gondan has launched the third commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) in a series of six ordered by Norwegian windfarm support specialist Edda Wind.

The Salt Ship-designed vessel measures 88.3 by 19.7 metres and will have accommodations for 97 technicians and 23 crewmembers. Equipment will include a 3D offshore crane, an offshore gangway, and an integrated lift with capacity for 26 people.

The CSOV will also have cargo hold space with a total area of 400 square metres.

UK’s NR Marine Services orders locally-built crewboat

UK vessel operator NR Marine Services has awarded local shipbuilder Diverse Marine a contract for the construction of a new catamaran crewboat.

The vessel, to be named NR Predator, will be a first-of-class crewboat that will feature an insulated generator space for receiving generators and batteries. This allowance means the vessel, which will initially be powered by conventional engines, will be ready for conversion to hybrid propulsion in the future.

NR’s contract with Diverse Marine also includes an option for a second crewboat.