Heerema Marine Contractors and shipbuilder Sembcorp Marine demonstrated the next-generation semi-submersible crane vessel – Sleipnir – last week in Singapore.
Constructed at Sembcorp Marine's Tuas Boulevard Yard (Singapore) for owner Heerema Marine Contractors, Sleipnir has a 220 m x 102 m reinforced deck area; a pair of revolving cranes can lift 20,000 tonnes in tandem, exceeding the capabilities of any other crane vessel currently on the market.
Sleipnir can accommodate 400 people and will be deployed globally for installing and removing jackets, topsides, deepwater foundations, moorings and other offshore structures.
With its single-lift capability catering to larger integrated structures than previously possible, Heerema said that Sleipnir will minimise offshore assembly work and raise operational efficiencies to new levels, while not compromising the flexibility and robustness of traditional installation methodologies.
The vessel also comes equipped with dual-fuel engines and will run on marine gasoil (MGO) and LNG. It also boasts an IMO and US Coast Guard-approved ballast water management system, enabling it to work across all jurisdictions.
Heerema said that it has already secured contracts to deploy the vessel in various offshore energy developments, including: Leviathan topsides installation in the Mediterranean Sea; Tyra jackets and topsides installation and removal in the Danish North Sea; Brae B jackets and topsides removal in the UK North Sea; as well as transportation and installation of the Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) Alpha HVAC platform in the North Sea, off the Netherlands coast.
Furthermore, Heerema said the semi-submersible crane vessel is well placed to handle the next generation of offshore wind energy components.
Industry firsts for Sleipnir
“Sleipnir scores several firsts in the industry,” said Pieter Heerema, chairman of the board at Heerema Marine Contractors. “It is the largest crane vessel yet built; it has the strongest pair of revolving cranes; and it’s also the world’s first crane vessel with dual-fuel engines running on MGO and LNG, dramatically reducing harmful emissions. Sleipnir’s innovative capabilities will place Heerema even firmer at the forefront of developments in the offshore oil, gas and wind energy industry for both installations and decommissioning.”
The vessel will leave for sea trials shortly and is scheduled for delivery to Heerema soon afterwards.
