Hallin Marine has commissioned a new, $110m, groundbreaking semi-submersible, subsea operations vessel to be named the CSS Derwent. “The CSS (compact semi submersible) delivers big ship capability in a low cost package,” said John Giddens, Hallin’s CEO. “It will support the oil operators’ desire to improve production and reduce costs.” The 84 m CSS is the culmination of a five-year project designed to deliver ‘large boat capability’ at a price of a much smaller vessel with a primary focus on light well intervention. Hallin and its partners have achieved the goal by designing a vessel that uses a semi-submersible style hull to provide exceptional seakeeping characteristics, increase deck space and provide good project load carrying capacity.
The result is the CSS Derwent, a dynamically positioned class 3 (DP3) vessel fitted with a 200 ton multi-purpose tower, a 150 ton active heave crane, both operational to depths of 3,000 m; along with two deep water construction class ROVs. CSS Derwent boasts two moon pools, accommodation for 152 personnel and the operational deck space comparable to a 120-m vessel.
Key to the diesel electric powered CSS Derwent’s success will be its strong financial advantage over larger vessels of a similar capability. Speaking at the signing of the build contract with Drydocks World in Singapore, Hallin’s chief executive, John Giddens, said the CSS Derwent showed faith and optimism in the subsea oil and gas industry: “There are very few new build vessels being ordered for our industry and certainly none as exciting or as groundbreaking as the CSS Derwent. She will have the capacity of a 120 m vessel, but not the cost either initially or operationally. We are delighted to sign the contract today to have the CSS Derwent built; the level of interest in her since we started talking about the concept has been huge and it is easy to see why – the CSS Derwent is designed to have the operational capacity of a large DSV or MSV or traditional semi submersible, but as a lower cost alternative.”
The CSS Derwent will join the Hallin fleet during the second quarter of 2012. The project has been backed by Hallin’s parent company, Superior Energy Services, Inc, further supporting the combined strategy to grow this business sector.
CSS Derwent Particulars
- Classification: ABS Class +A1 Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit +AMS (E) DP3 UWILD Helideck
- Built in ROV hangers amidships and starboard house 2 off 250hp construction class ROVs, both operational to depths of 3,000 m.
- 150T SWL active heave compensated knuckleboom subsea crane which will work in 3,000m depths
- Speed 10+ knots
- Deadweight 3200T @ 8.2m
- Main generator engine 6 x 2800KW @ 900rpm
- Thrusters 4 x 3000KW; 450KN thrust