Dutch firm OOS International Group has signed a memorandum of understanding which paves the way for it to bring the largest semisubmersible crane vessel to the market.
The new vessel, called the OOS Zeelandia (pictured), would be ordered from China Merchants Industry Holdings, a fully owned subsidiary of Hong Kong headquartered China Merchants Group, with which OOS has signed a memorandum of understanding.
The basic design is already in progress, says OOS. OOS describes the unit as a next-generation SSCV suitable for platform removal and installation in deep water. The 225m-long, 117m-wide platform will be equipped with two cranes, each with 12,000-tonne lifting capacity.
The the aft crane is fitted with a 360 degrees rotating DP work bridge where DPO’s and crane drivers are located next to each other, an "enormous" open deck space for positioning and transport of heavy modules, 112m between the cranes and a "large" hotel capacity integrated in the deck box. The dynamically positioned ICE Class 1B LNG vessel will be able to transit at up to 15.4 knots and has a low fuel consumption due to its ship shaped asymmetric design, says OOS.
Dutch heavy lifter Heerema Marine Contractors is currently constructing what has been called the world’s largest semisubmersible crane vessel, Sleipnir, in Singapore. Sleipnir has a two, 10,000-tonne lifting capacity and is due to come into service in 2019.
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Léon Overdulve, CEO and founder of OOS International, says. “These immense volumes that go beyond the capacity of our current fleet will be of great value to the decommissioning and subsea installation market based on client demands concerning the removal and installation of a high number of platforms. The new vessel which will be designed with the highest safety and ecological standards proves our dedication and persistence to provide the most significant benefits in terms of people, profit and planet to optimally serve the developing oil and gas industry.’’
The MOU was signed with CMIH in July of this year, but only revealed this month.
OOS already has two SSCVs in operation today, working on the renovation and maintenance of the platforms for Petrobras in Brazil. In 2016, OOS International signed a contract with China Merchants Industry Holdings for the construction of a further two new SSCVs, the OOS Serooskerke and OOS Walcheren, which can be used for dismantling, lifting and removal of platforms.
Both vessels will be equipped with two heavy lift Huisman cranes with a total crane capacity of 4400-tonne and a hotel capacity of 750 persons on board, each. Delivery is expected in 2019.
OOS is also planning to build a further two units, based on a design by CDC, based in Scotland, called a multi activity unit (MAU). The first to be built is set to be called the Luctor et Emergo. Read more here.
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