Baku Shipyard LLC has secured a contract worth $378 million from BP Exploration (Shah Deniz) Ltd. to design and build a Subsea Construction Vessel (SCV).
When completed, the SCV will be deployed for the Stage 2 development of the Shah Deniz field, which lies some 70 kilometres offshore in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. The Shah Deniz Stage 2 project requires a subsea installation vessel to install the subsea structures over 11 years between 2017 and 2027.
The vessel will include dynamic positioning to allow for work in 2.5 metres significant wave height (Hs), a 750 metric tonne-main crane for 600 metres-deep subsea operation, an 18-men two-bell diving system, two work-class remotely operated vehicles, a strengthened moon pool, two engine rooms with 6×4.4MW + 2×3.2MW engines and a deadweight of 5,000 metric tonnes at 6.5 metres draft.
New SCV will be designed by Marine Technology Development, the ship design and development arm of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M). The vessel is expected to be completed in April 2017.
The SCV is the first major contract secured by Baku Shipyard since its inauguration by President of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev, in September 2013. The shipbuilding yard was jointly developed by SOCAR, Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC) and Keppel O&M. SOCAR, AIC and Keppel O&M own 65%, 25% and 10% share in the yard respectively.
[mappress] kepcorp, April 23, 2014