McDermott International welcomed key customers aboard its newly converted Amazon vessel for a christening ceremony in the port of Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

As part of McDermott's global deepwater subsea strategy, the vessel has undergone a sophisticated conversion. The upgraded specifications enable highly automated operations, the production of hex joints from single or double joints using an onboard multi-joint facility and a pipe hold capacity of 10,000 metric tons. Its increased level of automation also enables a significant reduction in the crew numbers required to safely perform pipelay operations.

"Customers around the world are looking to this game changing vessel to deliver their ultra-deepwater projects," said Mahesh Swaminathan, Senior Vice President, Subsea and Floating Facilities. "The world-class pipeline system, installation versatility and advanced technology behind the upgrade significantly elevates its ability to efficiently deliver safe, quality-driven results."

The vessel is designed to be self-sufficient, allowing easy transition from project to project and providing pull through opportunities for the rest of the McDermott subsea fleet.