BMT Nigel Gee Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has announced that Trearddur Bay, its latest design for Turbine Transfers, one of the leading providers of Windfarm Support Vessels, has successfully completed sea trials in the Solent, achieving 31 knots with 8 tons DWT. With sea trials completed Trearddur Bay has immediately started work for Dong Energy.

Built by Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) on the Isle of Wight, Trearddur Bay was launched in December 2014. The vessel is 21m long with a beam of 7.0m and utilises BMT's well proven catamaran hull form. The design is already recognised for its excellent fuel economy and seakeeping.

Trearddur Bay is the first vessel in world to be fitted with the Voith Linear Jet (VLJ); an innovative propulsor unit developed by Voith. The VLJ is an advanced ducted propeller combined with a stator positioned in the duct aft of the propeller, in a similar arrangement to that of a waterjet. Trearddur Bay is fitted with a VLJ 900 propelled by 2 x MTU 10V2000M72 engines offering very high efficiency and lower fuel consumption. For the same installed power the VLJ can provide a bollard pull approximately significantly higher than that of a waterjet and conventional fixed pitch propellers.

Ed Dudson, BMT Nigel Gee's Technical Director commented: "Trearddur Bay's successful sea trails demonstrate BMT Nigel Gee's ability to combine robust, proven hull forms with innovative propulsion systems to new solutions for this fast growing market."

Harvey Gulf and Metizoft have signed a framework agreement on maintenance and quality assurance of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM). Vessels with IHM documentation must according to the requirements of IMO Guidelines - Ship Recycling; MEPC 197 (62) be maintained at all times and reflect the actual ship sailing. More and more shipping companies see the need to comply with the more stringent requirements, says Chief Marketing Officer Øyvind Sundgot.

"This agreement is one of several benefits of Harvey Gulf's focus on Health, Safety and Environment, which also form the basis for system solutions to the company's vessels," says Corby Autin, Executive Vice President of QHSSE / HR. "The agreement initially includes 10 vessels in operation, and future new buildings will be subject to continuous maintenance and quality assurance of documentation at Metizoft.

"Through the agreement with Metizoft, IHM documentation is maintained according to the current regulations and Metizoft is helping to ensure that we comply with the requirements at all times."

More and more countries have ratified or are at least getting closer to ratifying the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which addresses the requirements for IHM and makes ship owners responsible for compliance.

"We are very pleased to be a partner in Harvey Gulf's focus on the environment. The collaboration shows that Harvey Gulf is strategic in their choices in terms of meeting future requirements," says Sundgot.

Changes in the market earlier than expected
"A lot has happened in a short time, and this future requirement that will include all of the world's seagoing vessels above 500 tons deadweight at an earlier stage than some anticipated," Sundgot adds. "The European Union formally adopted the requirement on 30 December 2013, with some adjustments based on IMO - Hong Kong Convention. The new EU Ship Recycling Regulation means that EU-flagged vessels of 500 GT and over will be required to carry an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM). When calling at EU ports, vessels from non-EU countries will also be required to carry an IHM identifying all hazardous materials on board. This means that the maintenance and quality assurance of the documentation is strengthened and it will therefore be very important for owners to have control of this."

Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) requirements.

- EU-flagged newbuildings are required to have onboard a verified IHM with a Statement of Compliance at the earliest by 31 December 2015 and at the latest by 31 December 2018.
- Existing EU-flagged vessels are required to have onboard a verified IHM with a Statement of Compliance at the latest by 31 December 2020 (or if the ship is to be recycled, the IHM should be on board from the date when the European list of ship recycling facilities is published, expected to be by the end of 2016).
- Non-EU-flagged vessels calling at EU ports are also required to have onboard a verified IHM with a Statement of Compliance at the earliest by 31 December 2020.

A known difference is in the material declarations (MD) for the EU SRR, which will include two additional hazardous materials.

- PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) shall be prohibited. PFOS is chronically toxic, injurious to reproduction, carcinogenic, toxic to aquatic organisms and widely distributed in the global environment. In the marine industry, it can be found in fire-fighting foams of the type AFFF on vessels carrying inflammable fluids and those with helicopter decks, rubber and plastic materials (i.e., cable sheaths, PVC flooring, gaskets and seals) and coatings (i.e., paint).
- HBCDD (Brominated Flame Retardant) is to be listed in the IHM. HBCDD is very persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic to aquatic organisms; it causes long-term adverse effects on the aquatic environment. It is classified and labelled as dangerous for the environment. In the marine industry, this can be found in expanded polystyrene (EPS) used for cryogenic insulation, such as for liquefied gas tanks (LGT), refrigerated areas, thermal insulation boards (i.e., foam materials), rubber and plastic materials (i.e., cable sheaths, PVC flooring, gaskets, seals) and coatings (i.e., paint).

Metizoft has 8 years of industry experience in Ship Recycling and has provided project documentation to about 600 new buildings internationally and collaborating with leading shipyards and ship owners. "There are still a lot of shipping companies that do not know how to handle this, but there is no need to wonder anymore. We have proven on behalf of several major players in the industry that we can handle this. We want to meet the requirements on behalf of ship owners," says Sundgot.

EFC Group, a leading designer and manufacturer of instrumentation, monitoring, control and handling systems for the global oil and gas industry, has completed a £1.3million {$2.2million} contract to design and build a BOP and diverter control system for China based Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Offshore Co (DSIC Offshore).

The system is installed onboard DSIC's new build jack up drilling rig, JU2000E-13. DSIC is supplying the rig to drilling contractor Apexindo, where it will be known as 'Tasha'.

Bob Will, CEO at EFC Group, said: "This is a major contract for EFC, continuing our growth plan to become world class leader in control systems for both rig upgrades and new builds alike. It is also a significant project that's been supported by our manufacturing base in Forres which gives us the additional capacity required to undertake projects of this scale.

"EFC aims for this to be the start of a strong relationship with DSIC. In the new build market as a whole, we know there is a high demand on shipyards and their current vendors to delivery on time and on budget and we have invested in our facilities and resources to support this."

EFC's Surface BOP HPU can be supplied modular or as one integrated unit to fit rig requirements.

The BOP and diverter control system delivers a robust solution with central architecture on a fiber optic network. These systems are used to control the blowout preventer to seal, control and monitor the well and are critical for ensuring the safety of the crew, the rig, well integrity and the environment.

The EFC Group designed system provides full functionality from two or more locations, typically local hydraulic control, drillers' electric and toolpushers' electric remote panels. A solenoid valve enclosure is included to provide an interface from the electric signals from the remote panel and provide pneumatic or piloted hydraulic signals to the BOP control actuators. A hydraulic power unit can be included as part of system supply, or it can be limited to hydraulic control skid only.

Representatives from Apexindo visited EFC Group's base in Forres where the system was built during its Factory Acceptance Test (FAT).

Kenneth Gibbs and Jean Wojcik at Apexindo, said: "We are pleased that DSIC chose EFC Group to supply its BOP controls technology as part of the rig package. The high quality of the equipment used and the stringent safety levels that EFC Group works to were important factors for us."

EFC Group designs and manufactures BOP control systems for both surface and subsea stacks. BOP control projects can both update and convert controls systems, so they can be readily supported in the future as well as meet API 16D compliance. Surface BOP control systems can also be API 16D monogrammed.

Bibby Offshore's Houston-based division, Bibby Subsea (the "Company"), has signed a three year contract with Bordelon Marine to charter a new vessel. The Brandon Bordelon (photo) is an ultra-light intervention vessel (ULIV) and will commence a three year charter in August 2015 primarily operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The addition of the Brandon Bordelon to Bibby Offshore's existing international fleet of specialized vessels enhances the capability throughout the Americas region.

The purpose built, high specification Brandon Bordelon vessel provides a versatile and cost effective approach to a variety of operations, including IMR operations (inspection, maintenance and repair), light construction, survey and inspection work.

Since its inception, Bibby Subsea has experienced significant client demand for its service offering, which continues to increase across North America. In November 2014, the Company also announced investment in a custom-built facility. Located in the Houston Energy Corridor, it is set to strengthen the Company's presence and enhance its on-the-ground support for clients in the region.

Bordelon Marine is a leading provider of marine transport services to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico and around the world. The Brandon Bordelon's sister vessel, the Connor Bordelon, received 2014 American Ship Review Ship of the Year Award.

Andrew Duncan, President and Managing Director of Bibby Subsea, said:
"Signing a contract with Bordelon Marine for this new ULIV allows us to offer clients a cost effective and efficient alternative to other options currently available in the light intervention market.

"Over the past ten years Bibby Offshore has established a significant international presence and is a leading provider of IMR support and subsea construction services in the UK North Sea, with a proven track record of providing quality assets and people to their established client base. We are committed to bringing those principles to the Americas region."

Wes Bordelon, president and CEO of Bordelon Marine commented:
"The contract with Bibby Subsea underpins our commitment to providing a first class service to the Gulf of Mexico region and significantly increases our offering to this highly specialised market. As a family owned business ourselves, we are aligned with Bibby Offshore's ethos to provide excellence while maintaining the health, safety and well-being of our customers, colleagues and the environment."

N-Sea, the Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) specialist, has launched its third diving support vessel. The Edradour represents a £1.5 million investment for the company and will be immediately utilized in its industry-leading IMR operations in the North Sea, as well as in Holland and Germany.

The Edradour, with sister vessel the Aberlour

Launched in Aberdeen Harbor at the beginning of the month, the Edradour's high-capacity and high-performance capabilities as a daughter craft will be showcased at Subsea Expo in Aberdeen this week. Similar to its sister vessel, the Aberlour, the Edradour features added capability and redundancy, making it ideally suited for restricted area access around offshore vessels, platforms and mobile offshore drilling units where diving support vessels have limited access for maintenance and surveys.

The Edradour will be utilized as a specialist diving and intervention craft for the inspection of subsea structure, light construction works, debris removal, special periodic surveys (SPS) and inshore harbor survey work.

Commenting on the launch of the vessel, N-Sea Chief Operating Officer, Roddy James said: "We are proud to have added the Edradour to our increasing fleet of dive support and specialist intervention vessels; it represents the next generation of craft in terms of safety, capability and reliability. N-Sea's key objective is to produce safe, sound and swift solutions and the Edradour ensures our fleet will continue to exceed the expectations of our clients within the offshore subsea industry."

N-Sea is known for its innovative work as an independent offshore subsea contractor, specializing in IMR services for the international oil and gas, renewable and telecom/utility industries, as well as for civil contracting communities. With particular focus on North Sea activity, N-Sea provides offshore and survey services to major operators and service companies alike.

Damen has signed a contract with leading dredging and marine contractor Van Oord for the supply of a CSD 650 custom suction dredger together with an FCS 1605 Fast Crew Supplier, initially for operations in the Caspian Sea. Designed and delivered by Damen Dredging Equipment in Nijkerk, the Netherlands, the vessel will leave the yard at the end of January and travel overland to the Caspian Sea, from where it will begin operations in April.

"Van Oord requires a cutter suction dredger at short notice because of the large number of ongoing dredging projects. Damen's expertise combined with Van Oord standards will result in a fit-for-purpose addition to our dredging projects in the Caspian Sea", says Peter Bunschoten, Project Director at Van Oord.

Ural River
The work began immediately on the 60m dredger, designated the Ural River, to bring her up to the required specification.

Modifications now underway include the adding of a bow to enable a change of her classification from sheltered waters to coastal operations. The vessel is also being fitted with additional tank capacities to allow her to operate without support for an extended period of time in the remote locations where she will be working.

The fact that this particular CSD 650 was already equipped with anchor booms to allow easy moving of the side anchors was very helpful in minimising the time required for modifications, as the shallow waters in which it will be operating are not suitable for a Multi Cat to provide support.

Van Oord also required a number of safety and environmental features to comply with its exacting standards, which Damen has fulfilled.

Support vessel with 30 knots
Support for the CSD 650 is being supplied in the form of a Damen FCS Fast Crew Supplier 1605 with a top speed of 30 knots. Capable of taking up to 23 passengers, this sturdy workhorse is ideal for supporting the Ural River. Damen is one of the few shipbuilders able to provide complementary vessels at short notice for projects such as this.

Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE: OII) announces that it has entered into a two-year, multi-service vessel charter agreement with Shell Offshore Inc. (Shell) for use of the Ocean Alliance in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GOM) commencing January 1, 2015.

The Ocean Alliance is a state-of-the-art, U.S. flagged vessel built in 2010. It has an overall length of approximately 309 feet (94 meters), a Class 2 dynamic positioning system, accommodations for 69 personnel, a helideck, a 150-ton active heave compensated crane, and a working moonpool. The vessel is outfitted with two Oceaneering work class remotely operated vehicles and is equipped with a satellite communications system capable of transmitting streaming video for real-time work observation by shore personnel.

The vessel is expected to be used by Shell to perform subsea inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) projects and hardware installations. IMR projects are anticipated to include a wide range of intervention tasks, including chemical well stimulation and hydrate remediation. Hardware installations are anticipated to include flowline jumpers, umbilicals, production trees, and flying leads.

Under separate installation and IMR frame agreements, Oceaneering may also provide project management, engineering, fabrication, and vessel equipment and service packages to Shell on an as-needed basis to support the Ocean Alliance's operations.

M. Kevin McEvoy, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are extremely pleased that Shell has committed to this term agreement with us to support their deepwater GOM operations. Shell is one of our largest customers for subsea services in this geographic area, where we expect good growth prospects for the next several years."

Long range patrol vessel one of nine for Royal Bahamas Defense Force

The first Damen Stan Patrol 3007 has arrived at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands for outfitting. The vessel is one of nine that the Royal Bahamas Defense Force has ordered from Damen Shipyards. The order features four Stan Patrol 4207 vessels, one RoRo 5612 and a further three Stan Patrol 3007 vessels.

Damen has designed the Stan Patrol 3007 with the client's requirements in mind. Robin van der Zon, Project Manager at Damen Shipyards Group explains: "These patrol vessels will prevent smuggling and people trafficking, so it's vital they can quickly reach places other vessels cannot. For that reason we have developed the Stan Patrol 3007 to reach up to 24 knots with shallow draught." Even at the highest speeds, Damen's Sea Axe hull design will ensure excellent efficiency and sea keeping.

The vessel design also features a recess in the aft ship to accommodate a rigid inflatable boat (RIB), with high-speed capabilities. "The RIB design is also new," Mr Van der Zon says. "It features a water jet, a new engine system and a propulsion arrangement designed for optimal performance and reliability. She will be able to make speeds over 30 knots."

Damen has designed the Stan Patrol 3007 to remain at sea for up to one week at a time. To meet that requirement, they have provided on board accommodation for a crew of 13, as well as a pantry and mess room. "Over a period of approximately 15 weeks, we will install on board all machinery, electrical installations, HVAC, navigational equipment, insulation and carpentry," states Mr Van der Zon.

"After launching, sea trials and extensive testing will follow a commissioning period of approximately 5 weeks and the first Stan Patrol 3007 should be delivered in week 26 of 2015. After delivery, the crew of the vessel will undergo training in the Netherlands, before the vessel is shipped to the Bahamas," says Mr Van der Zon.

Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) issued approval for Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation's newly developed corrosion resistant steel (NSGP™-2) for use on the upper deck and/or inner bottom of crude oil tanker cargo oil tanks (COT). Following earlier approvals of steels for the inner bottom plating of COTs, this marks the first time that approval has been granted for corrosion resistant steels for both the top and bottom parts of the COT, providing owners and shipyards with a practical alternative to coating systems.

In order to reduce COT corrosion and improve crude oil tanker safety, new amendments to the SOLAS Convention were issued in May 2010 requiring oil tankers over 5000 dwt contracted after January 2013 to adopt appropriate corrosion protection measures for their COTs in line with either the IMO Performance Standard for Protective Coatings for COT (MSC.288(87)) or the IMO Performance Standard for Alternative Means of Corrosive Protection for COT (MSC.289(87)).

As the use of corrosion resistant steels would allow shipyards and owners to significantly reduce the time and cost related to coating application, development of such steels has been a topic of intense research over the past several years. However, differences in the corrosion mechanism found in the top portion of the COT, which is exposed to gases released from crude oil during transport, and the inner bottom, which is in direct contact with the crude oil cargo, have presented a major challenge to steel makers. Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation released the world's first corrosion resistant steel (NSGP™-1) for use on the inner bottom of COTs in 2011. The approval of NSGP-2 marks the first time that class-approved steels for both the top and bottom of the COTs will be available on the market.

Mr. Yasushi Nakamura, ClassNK's Executive Vice President said: "While coated conventional steel meets IMO regulations, the additional costs associated with coating application can be high. This approval of NSGP-2 means that owners now have a practical alternative to meet IMO regulations for COT corrosion protection, and we expect the use of this kind of steel will increase in the future."

The ClassNK approval confirms that Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation's NSGP-2 corrosion resistant steel meets the requirements of the IMO Performance Standard for Alternative Means of Corrosive Protection for COT and can be safely used in the construction of crude oil tanker COTs. The innovative development is expected to significantly lessen the financial costs associated with applying protective coating to conventional steel during ship construction and after going into commission.

GAC, a world leader in global shipping services, has been appointed sole provider of hub agency services for the worldwide LNG fleet of BG Group.

The agreement also covers crude oil and LPG shipments to accommodate BG Group's expanding cargo range.

The new five-year contract took effect on January 1 with GAC providing hub and ship agency services and a range of value-added solutions covering the movement of BG Group's cargoes around the world.

Kumar Ganesan, General Manager for GAC Global Hub Services coordinated the negotiations along with Bob Bandos, Managing Director of GAC Shipping USA. Bandos had first established the relationship with BG Group in 2001.

"This global contract with BG Group is an outcome of mutual reliability, a commitment to thinking long-term and a willingness to listen to each other," says Ganesan. "It's the product of a partnership that continues to grow stronger."

"We have been working closely with the BG Group for more than a decade and we look forward to supporting the company in its global LNG, LPG and Crude Oil business growth."

GAC operates Hub Agency Centers in Dubai, Houston, Singapore and Grangemouth, coordinating port calls globally for fleet operators

Following 3 years of successful operations, N-Sea - the Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) specialist - has extended its charter agreement with Siem Offshore, concerning its offshore subsea construction vessel, Siem N-Sea, previously Siem Stork. The agreement has a duration of up to 6 years, having begun on January 1, 2015.

The Siem N-Sea is a dive, multi-support and construction vessel, designed to meet the needs of the offshore subsea industry. It is one amongst N-Sea's fleet of six dive support and specialist intervention vessels, designed to deliver a range of subsea services for offshore assets, platforms, FPSOs and renewables operations, with minimal impact made upon production.

N-Sea strives to provide customers with safe, sound and swift remedies, and the ship is equipped with exceptionally efficient azimuth thrusters and a DPII dynamic positioning system for safe and economic operations on a world wide scale. Featuring N-Sea's ground-breaking TUP Diving System®, the vessel is also fitted with complete air and nitrox diving spread and daughter craft, WROV and Obs ROV.

A high focus on reduced fuel consumption through diesel electric propulsion is in keeping with N-Sea's commitment to an improved environmental performance across its fleet.

Commenting on the agreement extension, N-Sea CEO, Gerard Keser said: "N-Sea is extremely pleased to have extended its original agreement with Siem Offshore. It is clear testament to proven capability of both the vessel and the N-Sea team aboard the Siem N-Sea and back onshore. We look forward to the continuation of this excellent working relationship."

N-Sea is known for its innovative work as an independent offshore subsea contractor, specialising in IMR services for the international oil and gas, renewable and telecom/utility industries, as well as for civil contracting communities. With particular focus on North Sea activity, N-Sea provides offshore and survey services to major operators and service companies alike.

LQT Industries, LLC, a full-service provider of high quality accommodation facilities, design-build construction services, and support services to the oil and gas industry, has been awarded a contract for the construction of ten (10) modular units that will be utilized onboard a commercial vessel.

The outfitting will consist of both hardcore and softcore wall systems to increase the comfort and aesthetics of the buildings. Several of the modules will be constructed to tie together and open to one another creating larger rooms and interconnecting corridors. These modules will be built to USCG and ABS Class standards. The project is scheduled to be completed and delivered in March of 2015.

LQT had to compete against an international backdrop of suppliers. The customer stated, "It was LQT's engineering expertise and experience coupled with the ability to deliver in a short timeframe that helped secure the order."

Construction will take place at LQT's Construction Facility in Abbeville, LA, which specializes in designing and fabricating various types of modular structures including MCC buildings, accommodation buildings, and subarctic facilities. LQT has recently completed the expansion of their Abbeville facility to include a larger indoor fabrication area to accommodate additional projects.

McDermott International, Inc. ("McDermott") announces that the Derrick Barge 50 ("DB50") recently completed the installation of a drilling and production platform in the U. S. Gulf of Mexico continental shelf that included the heavy lift of a 3,250-ton jacket. This lift establishes the record for the largest jacket lifted by the vessel to date.

Photo: The McDermott heavy-lift vessel, Derrick Barge 50, installed a 3,250-ton jacket in the Gulf of Mexico.

"This milestone for the DB50 further demonstrates that McDermott has the right assets to meet the demands of our clients," said Scott Munro, Vice President, Americas/Europe/Africa. "The project specified that the jacket be lifted, not launched and our heavy-lift vessel fit the criteria, providing the flexibility required to install a jacket of this magnitude and its corresponding deck."

The six-pile platform was lifted by the DB50 in tie-back mode over the stern of the vessel in waters 391 feet deep over an existing well site. Piles were driven to a designed penetration of 430 feet and a 2,300-ton drilling and production deck was then installed on the jacket.

Following this successful project execution, McDermott has been awarded further transportation and installation contracts for the U. S. Gulf of Mexico that are expected to be executed by the DB50 in during the first half of 2015.

The DB50 is capable of lifting surface loads up to 4,400 tons and lowering up to 480 tons in 11,500 feet of water.

To maintain the continuous availability of its wide range of built-for-stock vessels, Damen Shipyards Group is currently shipping a diverse cargo of 16 new pontoons and tugs, as well as numerous modular barges, from China to the Netherlands. The latest shipment displays the efficiency of Damen's global construction and transport network and represents a major cooperation between its various product divisions and numerous local partners in China.

To perform the shipment, Damen mobilised ZPMC's Zhen Hua 28. The 232-metre semi-submersible vessel left Nantong, China at the beginning of January and is due to arrive in Rotterdam at the beginning of March. The whole process exhibits the significant cooperation with Damen's local Chinese partners such as Yahua Shipyards, Damen Yichang Shipyard, Damen Changde Shipyard, SHBM and local Nantong and Taicing Authorities.

The cargo includes eleven Stan Pontoons® of six different models (SPo 9127, SPo 8916ICE, SPo 7120, SPo 6020, SPo 6316 and SPo 2116) and numerous modular barges. The fully ballastable Stan Pontoon® 9127 is worthy of particular consideration: also known as 'North Sea Barge', its large deck with high loading capacity and predesigned plug and play options make it perfectly suited for ocean going transport and offshore projects. Two examples of this benchmark pontoon will be available for purchase from March – illustrating Damen's successful formula of building for stock to ensure minimum delivery times.

As well as standardised built-for-stock models, the Zhen Hua 28 is also carrying a custom-built spill pontoon that will be delivered to its owner just a few months after ordering. Spill pontoons are utilised to prevent spillage of dry bulk products during transhipment by crane barge. Damen's Pontoons & Barges Division designed this so-called Spill Pontoon to specific customer demands in answer to stricter European port regulations.

Topping off the diverse shipment are several workboats – including Stan Tugs 1205, Stan Launches 1305 and two large Shoalbusters.

Damen is experiencing significant growth in sales of its pontoons and barges – the past few months have witnessed deliveries around the world to customers in five different continents. To meet the demand, there are two further shipments of more than 20 pontoons planned for later this year.

Constructed in accordance to Lloyd's Register regulations, Damen's pontoons and barges can be designed to client-specific demands such as customised crane barges and various hopper barges. All models are prepared for plug and play installation of options like pumps and generator sets and can be commissioned within a very short time.

With a considerable part of Damen's broad portfolio directly available from stock, clients can take advantage of the company's presence in the Middle East, West Africa and China. Final construction and outfitting can be performed in short time scales to guarantee ultra-short delivery times. Local construction is also possible in combination with Damen Technical Cooperation.

The 22nd of December saw the delivery by Damen of an innovative new DOC 8500 cable laying vessel to international offshore contractor Van Oord. Named Nexus, the 126-meter vessel is intended for the installation of electricity cables for offshore wind farms. Van Oord is currently making preparations for the Gemini offshore wind farm which will be constructed 55 kilometrers to the north of Schiermonnikoog, one of the Dutch Wadden Islands, and the cable-laying vessel will be deployed initially at that site.

Despite encountering some challenges during the build process, the DOC 8500 was delivered several days ahead of the specified completion date and the entire design, engineering and build took just 15 months. This was particularly satisfying as additional work was also added to the specification after the contract was signed, with additional cable-laying infrastructure being installed prior to handover.

The success of the project was down to a number of factors. The level of cooperation between Van Oord and Damen was highly intensive from the outset, with very short lines of communications between the decision makers on both sides.

An additional factor was the ability of Damen to draw on the expertise on a number of companies within the Damen Shipyards group. Six Damen companies in Romania, Ukraine and the Netherlands contributed engineering and project management expertise; the vessel itself was constructed at Damen Shipyards Galati. The ability to access and coordinate such a diverse range of resources gives Damen a significant advantage when it comes to complex projects such as the DOC 8500.

Equipment installation
The Nexus is now at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen, where Van Oord is building and installing the additional cable laying equipment.

The Damen Offshore Carrier (DOC) concept was first introduced by Damen in 2012 as a cost-effective smaller heavy transport, offshore installation and ro-ro platform suitable for multiple markets. With its spacious and flush open deck the design is highly adaptable and its modular construction means that it can switch quickly and economically between roles.

Jaap de Jong, Van Oord's Staff Director Ship Management Department, commented: "By working closely together, Damen and Van Oord managed to build a fit-for-purpose and economical vessel in a very short period of time. The Nexus is an asset to Van Oord's fleet and its Offshore Wind Projects business unit."

An animation of the original concept can be seen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN0lDwn8Uk

Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), a leading naval architecture and marine engineering firm with offices in Seattle and Ketchikan, recently announced the delivery into service of the CAPE HORN, a Specialty Oilfield Vessel that it designed. EBDG partnered with Gulf of Mexico Operator SeaMar, LLC and Gulf Island Marine Fabricators on the class design and production engineering for the ship.

"We would like to congratulate our valued client, Darrel Plaisance of SeaMar, LLC on the delivery of their EB-220CC and the shipyard on a fine build," stated Gulf Coast General Manager, Keith Keller.

The design of the CAPE HORN was developed from concept to production in EBDG's Gulf Coast office and features an innovative tank farm unique to Specialty Design Oilfield Vessels. EBDG provided full design services including structural, mechanical, piping and outfitting design, and served as the primary point of contact for all regulatory body requests for information.

EBDG credits great teamwork, communication and project management expertise for the successful journey of the CAPE HORN from design to delivery and looks forward to a continued relationship with SeaMar, LLC and delivering its next vessel, the CAPE COD, into service.