Bergen to build construction vessel for SAL

Bergen Group BMV

BERGEN, NORWAY: Bergen Group, through its subsidiary Bergen Group BMV, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build a construction vessel with a dynamic positioning system for German shipping company SAL Schiffahrtskontor Altes Land GmbH & Co. KG. The contract value is approximately NOK 1.8 billion (US$282.32 million).

If the MOU is approved, which is subject to the Bergen Group board, the vessel is to be delivered in April 2012.

Skipsteknisk AS in Ålesund has together with SAL developed the project and will be responsible for the design of the vessel, which will be suitable for deepwater operations on oil and gas fields worldwide. The vessel will be 574 feet (175 m) long with a width of 105 feet (32 m).

In particular, the vessel will be outfitted for flexible pipe and umbilical laying, with two carousels below deck, each with a capacity of 3,858 tons (3,500 tonnes). Pipe laying will be carried out through a client-provided vertical laying system or portable laying system, which will be placed over the moonpool.

Also, the vessel will be equipped with a 600-ton (544-tonne) offshore crane. This enables transport of large structures, with the ability to place the structures on the seabed. The crane will lower the structure to a depth of 328 feet (100 m) and transfer it to a heave compensated traction winch system, which will be able to deploy the structure to a water depth up to 9,843 feet (3,000 m). The ship will have a cargo deck area of 32,292 square feet (3,000 sq m).

“We will be building an extremely advanced vessel with accommodation for 150 persons, three separate engine rooms, and three separate propulsion rooms,” said Bergen Group CEO Terje Sjumarken. “The vessel will be classified to DP3, and is a continuance of the vessels BN 167 and BN 164, currently being built by Bergen Group for Solstad Offshore and Aquanos Offshore, respectively.”