Doc 8500 Cable Layer
A charter agreement between expanding subsea contractor DeepOcean and Maersk Supply Service has triggered an order for a Damen Offshore Carrier DOC 8500 – the second order for this new ship design from Damen Shipyards Group.
The DOC 8500 will extend DeepOcean’s capabilities in the larger cable laying end of the market, representing a new focus on Interconnector projects, in addition to oil & gas sector and renewables work. The specially-equipped vessel will be delivered from the Damen Galati yard in Romania.
Owned and operated by Maersk Supply Service, the vessel will become the latest addition to the 60-plus strong Maersk offshore support vessel fleet.
René Berkvens, Damen Shipyards Group Chief Executive Officer, says: “We are very proud of being contracted by Maersk Supply Service and DeepOcean for this cable layer. We really believe in the new design, a result of our continuous R&D efforts. Because of the flexibility of the concept, the customer can incorporate a large number of purpose-specific demands to suit his specific needs. This particular vessel has been adapted in close cooperation with our clients, drawing on the expertise of all three companies to create a state-of-the-art Offshore Construction Vessel.”
Lasting relationship
Maersk Supply Service Chief Executive Officer Carsten Plougmann Andersen says: “This project builds on our long lasting relationship with DeepOcean, supporting their subsea operations. We look forward to expanding our cooperation with this highly valued customer and entering into a close working relationship with Damen Shipyards Group. We are convinced that the cooperation between all three parties will result in an efficient, reliable and very competitive vessel.”
Tony Inglis, DeepOcean UK Managing Director, says: “This next generation cable lay vessel in combination with our survey and trenching capabilities will enable us to bundle our services for customers in the offshore power cable and umbilical markets. The versatile new vessel will be well suited for installation and burial projects using its 7, 000 tonne carousel from land-fall to deepwater and also in remote geographical locations.
“The vessel is designed to meet the high standards demanded by North Sea Oil and Gas customers. We are delighted to be working with Maersk Supply Service and Damen to bring this high capability vessel to the market.”
Flexible platform
Remko Bouma of Damen Shipyards Bergum, who is overseeing vessel construction, describes the DOC 8500 as a “semi-customised, modular” design. For DeepOcean, the ship-to-ship rule compliant vessel has been configured to accommodate 90 personnel, mostly in single occupancy cabins.
“The DOC 8500 has been developed as a flexible platform for both transport and installation work offshore, ” says Mr Bouma. “Its bow and slender hull optimise sea keeping in rough seas and suppress slamming. The ship will run on either MGO or HFO and has DP2 capabilities in line with offshore market preferences. Its high on-deck cable carrying capacity makes it particularly competitive as a cable layer, while the vessel has also been optimised for shallow water operations, coming complete with a seven-point mooring system and the ability to take the ground fully loaded.”
The 138m length, 27.5m breadth DOC 8500 features 2, 200 m² of unobstructed deck of 20T/m2 load capacity with ro-ro capability. The 9, 300dwt vessel will have a top speed of 12 knots.
VIDEO
An animation of the original Damen Offshore Carrier concept is available here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN0lDwn8UkI
About Maersk Supply Service
Maersk Supply Service provides reliable, safe and efficient marine services to the global oil and gas industry. Maersk Supply Service is the market leader in deep-water services, and has both the vessels and people to assist customers with any offshore task or challenge.
Maersk Supply Service has more than 2000 offshore and 200 onshore employees and for four decades, Maersk Supply Service’s industry leading training programs have guaranteed that the company’s trusted crews are prepared and proficient to provide the ideal support for the customers’ operations.
Maersk Supply Service is part of the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group which employs more than 120.000 people and operates in more than 135 countries. Maersk Supply Service belongs to the Group’s fifth core business Services & Other Shipping, which apart from Maersk Supply Service consists of Damco, Maersk Tankers and Svitzer.
In 2013 Maersk Supply Service had a revenue of USD 930 million and delivered a result of USD 235 million.
About DeepOcean Group
DeepOcean Group is an integrated provider of safe, high quality, innovative services and technologies for the subsea industry. Demonstrating an extensive track record, DeepOcean Group offers a breadth of subsea services, including Survey and Seabed-mapping, Subsea Installation (SURF), Seabed Intervention, Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR), and Decommissioning.
This strong portfolio of services, coupled with a fleet of owned and controlled specialised equipment and multi-purpose support spreads, enables DeepOcean Group to bundle its subsea services to deliver cost-effective, tailored solutions to meet individual client needs.
DeepOcean Group strives for relentless customer focus and operational excellence, which is supported by a global team of highly professional and experienced project teams. The company delivers innovative engineering solutions and turnkey project management for complex offshore operations.
The company is a leading IMR Contractor and trenching operator in the Greater North Sea and has a global presence with offices in Norway, UK, the Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico and Singapore.
About Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 40 ship- and repair yards, employing 8.000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 5.000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers approx. 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.
Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale value and reliable performance. Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.
In addition to ship design and shipbuilding, Damen Shiprepair & Conversion offers a network of 16 repair & conversion yards worldwide, with dry docks ranging up to 420×80 metres. Conversion projects range from adapting vessels to today’s requirements and regulations to the complete conversion of large offshore structures.
