IHC Offshore & Marine, part of IHC Merwede, and SapuraCrest have signed two contracts for the design, engineering and construction of two new 550t pipelaying vessels. A third contract has been signed with OSX Construção Naval S.A. Brazil for the design and engineering of a 300t pipelaying vessel, as well as a large equipment package, supplied by IHC Engineering Business, among others. The orders have a total value of €450million. All three ships will install flexible pipelines in Brazilian waters, pursuant to Petrobras’ contracts for the charter and operation of pipelaying support vessels, which were awarded to SapuraCrest, a Malaysian rig and offshore support vessel operator IHC Merwede will build the two identical 550t pipelaying vessels at the Krimpen aan den IJssel yard. These vessels are the first fully integrated offshore vessels completely designed, engineered and built by IHC Merwede with a pipelay spread supplied by IHC Engineering Business. In addition, IHC Drives & Automation will deliver the integrated automation system, the full electrical installation and the complete electrical machinery package. Other IHC Merwede businesses, such as IHC Piping, are also delivering equipment. The third vessel - with a top tension capacity of 300t - will also be designed and engineered by IHC Merwede. The vessel will be - in accordance with the demands of Petrobras - built in Brazil, at the OSX yard in Açu, Rio de Janeiro. The pipelay spread will also be supplied by IHC Engineering Business. The delivery dates for the vessels to be built in The Netherlands have been set for May and August 2014 respectively.