Worldwide heavy lift vessel fleet size stable

Saipem’s DPS Field Development Ship 2 is scheduled for delivery in mid-2011.

Global Industries is among the companies noting major changes to its fleet. In 2008 the company had listed the derrick/lay bargesShawnee, Cheyenne, Seminole and DLB 332 in its fleet, among others. Those vessels were sold as they were determined not to meet the company’s business criteria and they were removed from this year’s survey. A new unit was added to the company’s fleet, the Global 1200, a 532 ft x 124 ft x 52 ft derrick pipelay barge delivered this year. The vessel’s length bests the company’s next longest unit by nearly 100 ft. The DP2 vessel is capable of working in water depths of 20-10,000 ft. The company also has under construction the Global 1201 set for delivery in April 2011.

Another company with new vessels in this year’s survey, plus two more scheduled for delivery in 2011 and 2012, is Offshore Contractors. New to this year’s chart are theJascon 2 and Jascon 31, a pipelay construction barge and construction/hook up barge, respectively. The latter vessel, a DP3 unit rated to work in up to 10,000 ft of water, was delivered late this year. Still under construction, the DP3 Jascon 18 will be 490 ft long and rated to work in up to 10,000 ft of water. Delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter 2011. The DP3 Jascon 35 is similar in size and also is rated for up to 10,000 ft of water with delivery expected in the first quarter 2012.

Saipem also has a new vessel under construction, the 600-ft long, DP3Field Development Ship 2, which is expected to be available in mid-2011. The multi-purpose construction vessel can operate in water depths up to 10,000 ft and has a static main revolving capability of 1,100 short tons. Top speed is 13 knots.

Global Industries’Global 1200 is the company’s newest vessel, a derrick/ pipelay barge delivered this year. The Global 1201 is scheduled for delivery in April 2011.

Smit Heavy Lift Europe added three vessels to its fleet since the last survey, theCyclone, Hercules, and Hercules II. All of the A-frame type crane barges are operating in Asia. Each of the moored units is capable of working in up to 400 ft of water.

Superior Marine Services is new to the list this year with theSuperior Performance heavy lift vessel and Superior Pride heavy lift/pipelay vessel. The 394-ft long moored vessels are rated for operation in up to 1,000 ft of water. The Superior Performance features accommodations for 272, while the Superior Pride can house up to 300 workers.

Last, but certainly not least, is Coastline Maritime’s offshore support/heavy lift vesselOSA Goliath. This 590 x 105 x 40 ft DP3 vessel features a Liebherr MTC78000 crane with a static main revolving capacity of 1,600 short tons at 31 ft. A sister vessel, OSA Sampson, features a Liebherr MTC64000 crane. The crane provides a lifting capacity of about 530 tons at a maximum radius of 243 ft. The boom length is 285 ft.