23 August 2015, News Wires – Petrobras has moved a step closer to getting its hands on the fifth of six flexible pipelaying support vessels ordered by Sapura Navegacao Maritima after it was launched by Royal IHC in the Netherlands.
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23 August 2015, News Wires – Petrobras has moved a step closer to getting its hands on the fifth of six flexible pipelaying support vessels ordered by Sapura Navegacao Maritima after it was launched by Royal IHC in the Netherlands.
The Sapura Rubi was named and launched from IHC’s yard in Krimpen aan den Ijssel, although delivery to the Brazilian charterer is not expected until next year.
Sapura Navegacao, a 50:50 joint venture between Malaysia’s SapuraKencana and Norwegian rig giant Seadrill, ordered six PLSVs, five at IHC (then called IHC Merwede) and one at OSX in Brazil. However, the latter shipyard ran into financial difficulty and the job was transferred to the Dutch builder.
IHC has already delivered the Sapura Diamante, Sapura Topazio and the Sapura Onix, while the Sapura Jade has also been launched. The Sapura Esmeralda is the one that was started at OSX. It is understood that the vessel is nearing completion, and then IHC Merwede will transfer the PLSV back to Brazil, where final commissioning and work will take place at OSX, with delivery to Petrobras eyed for the second quarter of 2016.
All six 550-tonne units are set for work on deep-water oilfields off the coast of Brazil for Petrobras.
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