Offshore Industry

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Overhauling the heavyweights

keppel O&Ms European yard

Innovating AHC
liebherrs subsea cranes

Denmarks Anholt
never mind the weather

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Offshore

Roll Call
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Deepwater credentials dont come much better than Dutch yard Keppel Verolmes recent trio of heavyweight projects.
Three heavy lift and subsea operations vessels from Saipem and Heerma Marine Contractors (HMC) gathered at one of Europes largest drydock facilities. But the Keppel O&M-owned yard also worked on a range of jobs covering the gamut of offshore industry assets. Pictured at the yard in late 2012 (clockwise from top left): 1 Ezions semi-submersible drill rigPrime Exerter, 2 the Troll Solution, operated by Norways North Sea Drilling Group, before heading to the UKs Cleeton platform under contract for BP, 3 Workfox-operated jack-up installer Seafox 5, 4 A2Seas Sea Jack (see OSIs Anholt wind farm report on pg 16), 5 semi-submersible crane and J-lay vessel Saipem 7000, 6 the Mobile Offshore Application Barge (MOAB) substation for the Global Tech I wind farm, 7 Saipems semi-submersible drilling rig Scarabeo 6 and 8 HMCs semi-submersible crane and J-lay vessel DCV Balder in drydock. Not pictured, the third heavy lift vessel, HMCs DCV Thialf, also underwent thorough inspection, maintenance and repair works at the yard her first drydocking since delivery in 1985. Our unique selling point is that we can manage large,

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After providing EPCI SURF services for 15 months at the BP-operated PSVM project in Angola one of the largest subsea developments in the world HMCs semi-submersible crane and J-lay DCV Balder underwent thorough inspection, maintenance and repair works at Keppel Verolme.

complex offshore construction, conversion and maintenance projects with a highly skilled workforce and one of the largest drydocks in Europe, notes Harold Linssen, Keppel Verolmes Managing Director. Equipped with a versatile and highly skilled workforce, Keppel Verolmes work includes drydocking, repair and maintenance, modification, conversion and construction of various vessel types.

Offshore Yard for Europe

With 20 yards worldwide, Keppel O&M believes in its Near Market, Near Customer strategy, catering directly to customer needs and contributing to local content. Located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Keppel Verolme is testament to the effectiveness of that strategy. The Keppel Verolme journey began in 1957, after Dutch shipbuilder Cornelis Verolme established the yard after noticing the growing demand for large new build ships. From 1980, the yard continued as a repair yard for the shipping and offshore industries under the name Verolme Botlek, growing its capabilities to meet the needs of global majors such as Petrobras and Saipem. By 2002, the yards project execution and track record caught the eye of Keppel O&M, who acquired and renamed the company Keppel Verolme.

Towering Projects

HMCs Thialf and Balder left the yard ready for an extended life in the offshore industry. Earlier in the year, Saipems semisubmersible drilling rig Scarabeo 6 arrived at the yard, requiring extensive maintenance and repair. Scarabeo 6 spent half a year in the drydock, upgrading its drilling capabilities, prefabricating and installing two outer sponsons, extending its deck extensions and other upgrading work. The vessel left the yard on 2 December 2012, with owner Saipem highly satisfied. In late 2012 Saipem sent its semisubmersible crane and J-lay vessel Saipem 7000 for an overhaul of its thrusters and
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paint work. The vessel left the yard at the end of February 2013. Mr Linssen: Keppel Verolme is pleased to be able to service our repeat customers Heerema Marine Contractors and Saipem once again with safe and quality project deliveries. He noted that, due to their commitment to quality and value-added services, Keppel Verolme sees many of their customers return to the yard.

Cut & Lift

Keppel Verolme secured a second major job from Stena Drilling for the upgrade of semi-

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submersible drilling rig Stena Spey. It will undergo a Special Periodical Survey (SPS) and upgrade. Expected to be delivered in Q2 2013, the rig will be deployed to the North Sea. The yards work scope for this project includes drydocking and the installation of anew crane, helideck and accommodation module. Existing accommodation facilities will also be upgraded while the rig undergoes its regular maintenance works and a painting programme. In 2010 the yard carried out another project for Stena Drilling the repair and maintenance of the 33,000dwt DP drilling semi-submersible Stena Don. For Noble Drilling yet another valued customer Keppel Verolme jacked up the jack-up rig Noble Byron Welliver a couple of meters to allow inspection of the top of the spudcans and the leg connection. In the same period, Keppel Verolme carried out several steel repairs and a painting programme on the rig. For a job well done, Noble Drilling increased Keppel Verolmes workscope with a contract to prefabricate and commission the steel portions of the jack-up rigs legs. The project is currently underway with the installation of these parts scheduled in April 2013.

Keppel Verolme dismantled and segregated the jack-up rig Prime Exerter so it can pass the Volga-Don canal to the Caspian Sea area, where it will execute a drilling contract.

New Frontiers

Seafox 5, one of the worlds largest multipurpose offshore wind turbine installers, visited the Keppel Verolme yard briefly before service. Bearing testament to Keppels range of solutions for the European offshore wind energy sector, Keppel FELS in Singapore delivered Seafox 5 to the Seafox Group in 2012. She can operate in harsh environments and up to 65 m water depth the deepest for such vessels as well as carry a wide variety of foundations and turbines. Chartered to the joint-venture company Aarsleff Bilfinger Berger Dan Tysk, Seafox 5 is installing offshore wind foundations in the 288MW Dan Tysk wind farm in the German sector of the North Sea. With the growing offshore activities in the European wind industry, Keppel Verolme provides full service (e.g. maintenance and mobilisation) to owners of these types of vessels.

Energy Exerter, arrived at the Keppel Verolme yard in February 2012. Ezion bought the rig in October 2012 before renaming it. The rig needs to pass the VolgaDon canal in order to enter the Caspian Sea. This canal has 17m wide locks, which is one of the main criteria for the segregation plan. Keppel Verolme started with removal and dismantling the 1,125t cantilever and drillfloor. Currently Keppel Verolme is removing the legs, which is done by a sheerleg with extended boom. The rig is jacked down on three connected, 16.5m wide barges which are suitable for carrying the segregated parts into the Caspian Sea.

Leveraging International Strengths

Innovative Solutions

Singapore-based Ezion Exerter contracted Keppel Verolme to dismantle and segregate the jack-up rig Prime Exerter. The purpose is to enter the Caspian Sea area in order to execute a drilling contract. In addition, Keppel Verolme is performing repair, maintenance and upgrade works. The Prime Exerter, formerly known as
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Mr Linssen comments: With a strong heritage, we have established a good reputation in the international market for reliability, solid project execution and commitment to safety. Leveraging Keppel O&Ms strengths in technology and project execution, Keppel Verolme is poised for continued growth, offering innovative and cost-effective solutions for the offshore industry.
i. www.keppelverolme.nl

harold linssen

We can manage large, complex offshore construction, conversion and maintenance projects with a highly skilled workforce and one of the largest drydocks in Europe.
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