DCV Balder
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The DCV Balder is a Deepwater Construction Vessel operated by Heerema. It was constructed in 1978 by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. as Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel. In 2001 it was converted to DCV by Verolme Botlek BV.
The Balder has two cranes (1 * 3600 mT, 1 * 2700 mT). Since the conversion it is equipped with a class III Dynamic Positioning system for position keeping. It is fitted with seven 3,500 kW azimuthing thrusters and two propellors.
During the conversion a Mooring Line Deployment winch was installed, the largest in the world[1], with a diameter of 10.5 meter and an SWL (Safe Working Load) of 275 mT. In 2002 a J-Lay tower was installed. It is capable of laying pipe in waterdepths to 3000 meter.
The hull consists of two floaters with three columns each. Transit draught is ± 12 meter. For lifting operations it will normally be ballasted down to 25 meters. This way the floaters (with a draught of 12 meters) are well submerged to reduce the effect of waves and swell.
It is able to accommodate 350 persons.
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[edit] Particulars
| Length overall | 154 meter |
| Breadth | 86 meter |
| Breadth (incl. J-Lay) | 118 meter |
| Max. draught | 27 meter |
| Depth to workdeck | 42 meter |
| Height J-Lay tower to workdeck | 101 meter |
| Lightship weight | 49,631 mT |
| Max. displacement | 104,355 mT |
[edit] Remarkable projects
- In 1978 Occidental’s Piper Alpha was the first platform installation with a Semi Submersible Crane Vessel.
- In 2004 it installed BP's Holstein, the world's largest spar in the Gulf of Mexico.
- In 2005 the world's largest Semi-submersible Platform, BP's Thunder Horse, was installed[2].
- In 2005 it assisted in the uprighting of BP’s Thunder Horse, which was found listing dramatically after hurricane Dennis[3].
- In 2006 it installed BP’s Mardi Gras Atlantis gas export pipeline (24” diameter) in a record breaking water depth of 2,220 meter[4].
- in 2007 it moored the Independence Hub Facility in a record breaking water depth of 8000 feet, with a world record for the deepest flow line installation of 9000 feet.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Heerema Mooring Line Deployment Winch.
- ^ OilOnline, Making deepwater history.
- ^ Oil Online, Back from the Brink.
- ^ World Pipelines, Installing on Time.
- ^ >Rigzone, Heerema Sets World Records in Independence Hub Installation Tuesday, April 17, 2007.
