Swire Seabed, a fully owned subsidiary of Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO), has placed an order for the acquisition of two Kystdesign Supporter Work-Class Remotely Operated Vehicles (WROVs) with Lidan Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS), for delivery in February 2016.
Headquartered in Bergen, Norway, Swire Seabed has the option to purchase two more WROVs.
Swire Seabed’s other mobile subsea assets include a 6,000 metres depth rated Argus Bathysaurus XL WROV, a Sperre Subfighter 15k observation ROV and the Seabed Excavator, a cutting-edge multi-purpose subsea tool carrier and dredging vehicle. This is in addition to the six WROVs permanently installed on Swire Seabed’s dedicated subsea vessels.
Both the WROVs and LARS will be used to support Swire Pacific Offshore’s extensive fleet of more than 80 OSVs, as well as other third party vessels that require mobile WROV systems.
“The decision to invest in these assets is part of Swire Seabed’s long-term growth strategy. Swire Seabed is not immune to the challenges low oil prices bring, however, the strength of SPO allows the company to continue investing in new assets. Being able to offer mobile ROVs to the market and integrating them into SPO’s global fleet set Swire Seabed apart from its main competitors. The new mobile WROV systems will strengthen Swire Seabed’s ability to provide subsea services globally, reach into new market segments as well as allow us to continue to grow in the offshore oil and gas world,” says Swire Seabed’s CEO, Arvid Pettersen .