The vessel will be US flagged and documented with a coastwise endorsement by the US Coast Guard. It will be used to augment the company’s ability to provide subsea intervention services in the ultra-deep waters of the US Gulf of Mexico (GOM).
The services are required to perform inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) projects as well as hardware installations.
IMR projects will include chemical well stimulation and hydrate remediation, while hardware installations include flowline jumpers, flying leads, and subsea trees, pumps and separators.
According to the company, the vessel will have an overall length of 353ft, a class 2 dynamic positioning system, space to accommodate 110 personnel, a helideck, a 250t active heave compensated crane, and a working moonpool.
The vessel will be outfitted with two 13,000 foot-rated Oceaneering work class remotely operated vehicles. It will also house a satellite communications system that can transmit streaming video for real-time work observation by shore personnel.
Oceaneering International president and chief executive officer Kevin McEvoy said its vessel will be equipped to carry out complex deepwater field development installation work and life-of-field IMR projects resulting from the increased drilling activity.
"In particular, this vessel will have a crane that is capable of handling lifts 100-tons greater than any of the vessels we currently operate. This will increase our capability to meet our customers’ demand to safely handle heavier subsea payloads in deeper water depths," McEvoy added.
The company hopes to deliver the vessel by the end of the first quarter of 2016.
