GC Rieber Shipping Continues Expansion into SURF Market with Ulstein Newbuild Order

Norwegian shipowner, GC Rieber Shipping annouced today they have awarded a newbuild contract to ULSTEIN for the delivery of a high capacity subsea construction vessel of the SX121 design, with an option for a second vessel.  The total contract value is approximately NOK 800 million.

GC Rieber Shipping’s CEO Irene W. Basili commented:

The market for this type of vessel is expected to be attractive going forward. This investment is consistent with our strategy to strengthen our position in the high end subsea segment. We have an attractive and flexible ship design with interesting potential also in the SURF market as well as a favorable delivery date.  We are very happy to award this contract to a Norwegian shipyard.  Norway is world-leading when it comes to design and quality of specialised offshore vessels. GC Rieber Shipping is deliberate in its efforts in the most demanding areas of the offshore market, and I am confident that we will get a top class vessel from ULSTEIN.”

“GC Rieber Shipping is a solid and experienced shipowner, and we are pleased that they have chosen ULSTEIN for this project. Subsea is one of our focus areas, and we will deliver a state-of-the-art offshore construction vessel (OCV) that will serve the shipowner well in the years to come,” states Gunvor Ulstein, CEO in Ulstein Group.

Managing director in Ulstein Verft, Karsten Sævik, is pleased with the contract: “ULSTEIN has built for GC Rieber Shipping before, and we are happy that they have chosen ULSTEIN again,” he states. “Our organisation has broad expertise in developing this type of vessel together with customers, so this project suits us perfectly. We are looking forward to cooperating with GC Rieber Shipping and to deliver a high quality ship according to contract.”

The ship of SX121 design from ULSTEIN is equipped with a dynamic positioning system of the highest class (DP3).

The subsea construction vessel is 130 metres long and 25 metres wide with a top speed of 14.5 knots. She will be equipped with a large active heave compensated offshore crane with 250 ton capacity at 14 metres outreach and with the winch placed below deck. The crane will mainly be used for lifting and lowering heavy equipment from and to the sea bottom.

The vessel will carry two ROVs; one is to be launched from the starboard side and the other through a moonpool.

The ship has a large cargo deck for OCV work. She will have diesel electric propulsion and three main azimuth thrusters. The vessel can accommodate 130 persons and will be constructed in accordance with the latest international environmental regulations.

The vessel will be prepared for a VLS tower (vertical lay system) and a 2,500 ton rotating carousel below deck, to be used for future pipe laying operations. For that reason, the vessel is also equipped with two moonpools, one for future VLS and one for launching the ROV.

The delivery of the vessel is scheduled in the first quarter of 2014.