Subsea 7 has revealed the specifications for its new generation Heavy Construction Vessel (HCV), which is to be named the Seven Arctic.
The vessel is being built in South Korea for delivery in 2016, and is designed in direct response to demand for larger vessels with higher capabilities to execute complex projects more quickly and cost-effectively.
Newly Designed Huisman Crane
The new HCV will be equipped with a 325 mt top tension Huisman Vertical Pipelay System, a 7000 mt MAATS underdeck basket for storage of flexible pipe/umbilical and a newly designed 900 mt Huisman Rope-Luffing Knuckle-Boom Crane.
The Rope-Luffing Knuckle-Boom Crane is a development of the Huisman Pedestal Mounted Offshore Crane and Offshore Mast Crane and uses an innovative (for offshore applications) knuckling system on the main boom which is actuated using wire ropes rather than hydraulic cylinders.
The design maintains knuckle boom functionality for offshore construction activity while not suffering the weight penalty and the associated impact on ship stability when operating conventional knuckle boom crane designs. The result is a crane that is highly versatile and efficient and can be used in 300, 600 or 900 t modes.
The crane’s large lift capacity is matched by its unrivalled 58 m radius which allows it to move equipment from every corner of the deck. These different modes of operation give flexibility for everyday use, combined with the capability for larger lifts.
Wärtsilä Ship Design Norway
The preliminary vessel design was conducted jointly with Wärtsilä Ship Design Norway, while the detailed design and construction will be completed by South Korean company Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).
This will be the second vessel that HHI will build for Subsea 7. In November 2012, Subsea 7 signed a contract with HHI to build a new Dive Support Vessel, the Seven Kestrel, which will join the fleet in 2015.
Picture: Impression of the Seven Arctic (by Subsea 7)
