Fleet Improvements

Significant investments in vessel improvements, new builds and acquisitions.

Our fleet renewal strategy focuses on ensuring our vessels and acquisitions keep abreast of the industry’s growing demand for safe, efficient, cost-effective installation solutions for field developments across all water depths.

McDermott naval architects and marine engineers design specialized equipment for our vessels, and maintain and improve equipment to ensure the fleet’s safe and reliable operation. Our global marine bases include extensive infrastructure, equipment and maintenance facilities to support our offshore operations 24 hours a day.

Derrick Barge 50 (DB50)

This well established deepwater combination heavy lift and deepwater pipelay vessel is currently being enhanced to deliver a greater level of reliability and versatility for subsea and platform completion projects; enhancements are expected to be completed by the beginning of 2012.

Four new diesel-engine driven 5.2 megawatt generators will increase power capability to 20.8 megawatts, enhancing the vessel’s power distribution availability.
Six, new larger fixed pitch thrusters, powered by variable frequency AC inverter drives, will increase capacity to 14.4 megawatts, and increase redundancy for station-keeping. The latest DP controls, will be installed, as well as a new vessel control/automation system to monitor and control auxiliary machinery and marine systems.
Installation of a new Active Heave Compensated Deep Water Lowering System (DWLS), designed for loads to a water depth of 11,000 feet, will be mounted in DB50’s crane.
The new DWLS 880-ton block will hang forward of DB50’s main block, allowing for greater lifting /lowering capabilities and the crane-mounted system will enable DB50 to pick up a load and lower it straight into the water, eliminating load transfer to a deck-mounted system. Once at the desired depth, the crane can also assist the vessel’s DP system with the final positioning of items onto the sea floor.

North Ocean 102 (NO102)

A further enhancement of the already modern NO102’s lay system and cranes for ultra-deepwater work is expected to be completed in the future. Currently the vessel is equipped with a 7,275-ton capacity cable, umbilical and flexible pipe carousel with horizontal lay system. A 110-ton knuckle-boom crane with active heave compensation capable of working in 6,660 feet support deepwater subsea construction.

Installation of a high-capacity flexible-lay system will enable ultra deepwater installation work
A 330-ton top-tension flex-lay tower, with 275-ton active heave compensation crane and 330-ton hang-off clamp, and a 330-ton, 33-foot grip length, four-track tensioner will be installed, capable of lowering loads to a depth of 10,000 feet

Lay Vessel North Ocean 105 (LV105)

Currently under construction, LV105 will have an advanced reeled system capable of rigid and flexible pipelay in water depths up to 10,000 feet. It can also support saturation diving (SAT) – a bonus no other reeled vessel can offer.

LV105 includes a 441-ton crane, 441-ton top-tension pipelay tower, and unique reel and deck layout.
Targeting the reeled pipelay market, it can also accommodate installation of flexible products, including submarine cables, umbilicals and pipelines.
Having both crane and top-tension pipelay tower provides a one-vessel solution for SURF field developments where mooring and seabed hardware must be installed in addition to pipelines and umbilicals.
Delivery of LV105 is expected mid-2012.
It is currently being tendered for work in the second half of 2012 and in 2013.

Derrick Lay Barge 30 (DB30)

Upgrades are planned to DB30 during 2013 that include installation of a dynamic positioning (DP2) system with a fully integrated tensioner and A&R system, as well as a 246-foot rigid stinger that will significantly enhance the efficiency of DB30 for both shallow and deepwater work, especially in Asia Pacific for deepwater subsea installation.

Eight variable-speed, fixed-pitch thrusters will be installed, with a highly redundant 8-buss DP system to enable better station keeping, and related cooling, ventilation, fuel and utilities
A fully integrated DP control system, related sensors, and interfaces to the existing tension machines will be installed with a new 250-ton A&R “traction winch” which will have the storage capacity for 3 ¾” wire to 10,000 feet water depth, and equipment, enabling deepwater subsea installation.
Note that the 10 point mooring system will remain fully operational, which will enable the DB30 to operate cost effectively in shallow water and deepwater utilizing either full-DP, full-mooring, DP-assisted or mooring-assisted pipelay and heavy lift mode.
A three-section adjustable rigid stinger with a length of 246 feet including a support frame with integrated winches that will allow fast removal and installation to switch efficiently between pipelay and heavy lift mode, in both deepwater and shallow waters
Additional living quarters will be added to accommodate variances in crew requirements to prepare and support the different operational modes.

Lay Barge 32 (LB32)

This new-build pipelay barge has a fully integrated, customized pipelay system with the latest tensioning equipment and McDermott AWS technology. Designed to lay pipe up to 60 inches in diameter in waters between 10 and 1,000 feet, LB32 is scheduled to undergo major upgrades in 2012, which are expected to be completed by 2013.

90-foot stern extension increasing the barge length to 456 feet, allowing space to install a new crane while maintaining operational deck space
Installation of a 1,653-ton Am Clyde Tub crane (including power and utilities) to increase the barge’s operational flexibility, allowing for structural installation work
Increase in barge width by 16 feet to 120 feet by adding a starboard sponson to increase stability and shallow water operability
Installation of two new bow mooring winches to increase operational capability
Relocation of the existing pedestal crane to starboard to increase anchor handling efficiency, and relocation of the existing tensioning machines to allow for an additional welding station

Agile

Recent upgrades enable Agile to lay, tie-in and test flexible product in water depths up to 6,650 feet and/or disconnect and recover 1,200 tons of flexible pipe per round-trip voyage. The Agile can maintain position at work sites for more than 30 days and can transit fully loaded at 10 knots.

Installation of sponsons allow increased stability during lay-operations and overboard crane operations.
A new 220-ton flexible lay spread includes: a 220-ton tensioner; 243-ton A&R system; custom designed A-frame and lay-wheel combination for deploying flexible products over the stern; 243-ton capacity hydraulic hang-off table; auxiliary 110-ton side hang off platform for connecting first end modules and equipment.
A new DP-system and secondary acoustic reference system to ensure reliability.
Installation of a 110-ton AHC crane capable of lifting 33-tons at maximum working depth of 6,650 feet and an additional 15.4-ton deck crane.
Expansion of the power generation system and an additional 1,000-kilowatt mid-ship thruster for increased redundancy working around platforms and high water currents. Upgraded main propulsion system consisting of two variable pitch propellers, adding more propulsion efficiency.
Installation of a ROV spread including two work class ROV’s and a refurbishment of existing accommodation.