The Wartime Secretary of the Navy
What (Acting) Secretary Hung Cao’s First Five Months Tell Us About the Job Ahead By Bruce Kimbrell (Policy Op-Ed) President Trump has nominated the Honorable Hung Cao to become the...
After wrapping up her deepest work ever at ENI’s Devil’s Tower Southwest project in the Gulf of Mexico, and another subsequent pipelay project in the same region, Helix ESG’s Express pipelay vessel arrived early this month in the Mediterranean Sea for work offshore Israel.
The Express is conducting SURF (Subsea Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines) work for Texas-based Noble Energy in the Noa natural gas field offshore Israel, in approximately 2,556ft of water (779m).

With transit speeds up to 12 knots, the 520 foot-long Express is designed to efficiently reach any ocean in the world. Her two reels hold 3,000 tons of pipeline up to 14in in diameter.
Taken on board Helix ESG’s pipelay vessel, Express, these photos show two Pipeline End Terminal manifolds (PLETS) as they are hoisted off an adjacent supply boat and lowered down to the seabed. All images courtesy HELIX.
First End PLET Lifted and Lowered


Second End PLET installation at dawn
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