R/V Roger Revelle Gets a Thruster Upgrade
The research vessel Roger Revelle is currently going through an extensive mid-life refit. One of the upgrades to the vessel is the installation of telescoping thruster technology from ZF Marine.The R/V Roger Revelle is a globally capable oceanographic research vessel, designed as a platform to support many different facets of ocean-based scientific research. The vessel is owned by the US Navy and operated by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography under a charter agreement with the Office of Naval Research.
China Shipyard's 500-Bed Rig Construction Contract Activated
COSCO Corporation (Singapore) Limited announce that contracts each in excess of US$200-million for two advanced semi-submersible accommodation vessels to be constructed in China have been declared effective. The accommodation rigs are to be built by COSCO subsidiary COSCO (Qidong) Offshore who are responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of the two semi-submersible vessels. They will be of Gusto MSC Ocean 500 design and will be equipped with 500 beds, DP3 station keeping systems, 10-point chain mooring and 300 ton cranes.
Prosafe Orders Two Offshore Accommodation Vessels
Prosafe has agreed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with COSCO (Qidong) Offshore Co. Ltd. for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of two semi-submersible accommodation vessels, with options for four further units. The pair will be the most advanced and flexible units for worldwide operations excluding Norway, and will be ready for operations in 2016. They will be of Gusto MSC’s Ocean 500 design and will be equipped with 500 beds, DP3 station keeping systems, 10-point chain mooring and 300 tonne cranes. The LoI covers two potential contracts, each in excess of USD 200 million.
ABS, Newbuild and Converted Offshore LNG
ABS is currently involved with the review of or being considered for the selected class society for several Floating LNG (FLNG) and Floating Storage and Re-gasification Unit (FSRU) concepts. “We’ve been approached by leading energy operators to help them evolve gas technology that has typically been developed for land-based facilities,” said Ken Richardson, ABS Vice President Energy Project Development. Richardson pointed out that the recent increases in the size of LNG carriers may create commercial challenges for the continued flexible operation of some of the existing LNG carriers. “LNG carriers are some of the best maintained vessels that can be found,” Richardson pointed out. “Strict maintenance regimes mean these ships may have many years of serviceable life ahead of them.
