Rowan Viking to Get Longer Legs at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen

Image: Damen

The 170 meter tall Rowan Viking jackup will soon be a bit taller as a result of a refit at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen (DSV). The yard will be adding another 20 meters to the legs of the Keppel Fels ‘N’ Class rig to allow it to work in deeper waters of the Norwegian North Sea while under contract to Lundin Petroleum.

Damen notes that because the leg extension work will be done at great heights, DSV has contracted Palfinger Systems to use their unique Jack Up Maintenance Platform (JUMP) system to provide a self-elevating scaffolding system around the legs.

palfinger jump — File image of the Palfinger JUMP system, image: Palfinger

Mammoet’s largest PTC cranes will be used to hoist the 120-ton leg extensions and to make room for the crane, DSV has moved its warehouse and built a special foundation that can handle the high ground pressure of 30 tons per m².

Commercial Manager Bas Loohuis commented on the project: “A leg extension of this magnitude has never been done using this method at DSV. Using the Palfinger systems and the Mammoet crane will enable us to carry out other work while the legs are being extended, which will translate into a significant improvement in turnaround time.

The Rowan Viking will be at the shipyard for approximately 130 days.