Huisman has secured new contracts for ten pipelay systems with various major offshore pipelay contractors.

The new contracts include three 550 mt Tiltable Lay Systems (TLS) and one 325 mt Vertical Lay System (VLS) for Subsea 7, two 650 mt TLS and two 340 mt VLS for Technip-DOF, one 275 mt VLS and one 570 mt Multi-lay System for Ceona.

Multiple Production Facilities

The equipment will be built at the various Huisman production facilities in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, China and Brazil. Delivery of the pipelay systems is scheduled between the end of this year and early 2017.

Squeeze System

The orders for the 3 x 550 mt TLS for Subsea 7 and the 2 x 650 and 2 x 340 mt TLS for Technip-DOF are all part of their contract with Petrobas. The three Subsea 7 TLS will all be equipped with a sophisticated Huisman squeeze system to accurately control squeeze loads.

Retractable Tensioners

All tensioners will be retractable, which allows for safe and efficient installation of large subsea infrastructure components such as umbilicals, risers and flowlines. The vessels for Subsea 7 will be built by IHC, The Netherlands. 

Knuckle Boom Cranes

Technip-DOF’s order for two TLS includes baskets and 2 x 50 mt SMST knuckle boom cranes, which allow for deck handling and deep water operation. The vessels for the 2 x 650mt will be built by VARD in Norway and the vessels for the 2 x 340 mt will be built by VARD in Brazil. Delivery of the final pipelay system for these orders is scheduled for early 2017.

DP3 Heavy Construction and Flexible Pipelay Vessel

An additional contract for Subsea 7 includes a 325 mt VLS for their new built DP3 Heavy Construction and Flexible Pipelay Vessel, which will be built by Korean shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (HHI). Besides the pipelay system, Huisman will also deliver a 600 mt AHC subsea crane for this vessel. Delivery is scheduled for 2015.

Huisman Vessel Design

The orders for Ceona include pipelay systems for their vessels the Polar Onyx and the Ceona Amazon. The latter, a multi-function, dynamically positioned construction vessel, will be built based on a Huisman vessel design. The highly integrated and fully optimised vessel will have exceptional sea keeping characteristics, with a maximised deck area and a weather window with limited vessel dimensions.

This design includes a project area of 4600 m2, which allows for further storage of line pipe and standard flexible installation reels. The pipelay system consists of an inclinable lay system with a top tension of 570 mt and a rigid pipeline firing line system. The vessel can lay rigid pipelines, flexible pipelines and umbilicals, and can install large subsea structures using one or both of its 400 mt subsea cranes, also built by Huisman.

The Ceona Amazon will be built by Lloyd Werft, and the Huisman equipment is scheduled for delivery in 2014. The 275 mt VLS for the Polar Onyx will be delivered in 2014 as well. 

Picture: Huisman pipelay system (picture by Huisman)