Chinese shipbuilder CIMC Raffles has, on 22 June, signed a shipbuilding contract to construct a next-generation multi-purpose deepwater offshore installation vessel for a joint venture established by Norway-based Solstad Offshore and Netherlands-based SBM Offshore, with Solstad Offshore holding a 50.1% ownership interest and SBM Offshore the remaining 49.9%.

Upon delivery, the methanol-ready vessel will be owned by the joint venture and managed by Solstad Offshore as ship manager. The JV has entered into an initial 14-year charter agreement with SBM Offshore.

The new vessel has been developed in close collaboration among Solstad Offshore, SBM Offshore and Salt Ship Design, and is said to incorporate the latest requirements of the global deepwater installation and subsea construction market. It builds on the operational history of the construction support vessel (CSV) Normand Installer, which has been jointly owned and operated by Solstad Offshore and SBM Offshore since 2006.

Primarily intended for FPSO support, subsea installation and offshore construction activities, the vessel will be capable of performing complex operations in both shallow-water and deepwater environments, with operational capability in water depths of up to 4,000 metres. Its scope of work will include subsea installation, mooring system installation, SURF operations, inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR), and FPSO-related offshore construction activities.

The vessel will have an overall length of 132.6 metres, a beam of 32 metres, and accommodation for up to 100 personnel. Key mission equipment includes a 500-tonne active heave compensated (AHC) crane, an advanced deepwater winch system, an integrated carousel system, an A-frame overboarding sheave system (OBS), and launch and recovery systems (LARS) for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).

Designed and constructed to methanol-ready standards, the vessel will feature dynamic positioning 2 (DP2) and will be classed by DNV.

Lars Peder Solstad, CEO of Solstad Offshore ASA, said: "This is an important milestone for us and for our partnership with SBM Offshore. We are pleased to have the shipbuilding contract in place and to commence our collaboration with CIMC Raffles on the construction of this next-generation vessel."

Solstad Offshore operates a fleet of offshore support, subsea construction and installation vessels, with experience spanning offshore oil and gas developments, marine construction and offshore renewable energy projects. SBM Offshore is active in the design, construction, installation and long-term operation of FPSO units, with a focus on deepwater oil and gas developments and integrated offshore engineering solutions.

CIMC Raffles, which has accumulated experience in the design, construction and delivery of FPSOs, offshore platforms, offshore support vessels and specialised engineering vessels, said the contract reflects confidence in its integrated design, construction and project execution capabilities.