The Twin Marine Lifter uses two vessels, each with four 2,500t lifting arms to lever large structures, such as oil rigs, up and down, so that they can be lifted off of barges and onto their final location. Each arm is 75m long and can be extended 15m. Lifting force is created by deballasting buoyancy tanks and simultaneously adding ballast to tanks on the end of the arms.
A CGI image of one half of the TML system
Under the terms of the deal, ESSCA (Hongkong) Ltd, in consortium with China Petroleum First Construction Corp. (CPFCC) and the JingJiang Nanyang shipyard near Shanghai, will manufacture, assemble and test the first two vessels. CPFCC will be building the arms for the system, and will mount them on ships built by the JianJiang Nanyang shipyard.
A CGI image shows two TMLs moving into position to lift a jacket from a transport barge
The DP class 3 heavy transport vessels being used for the system are 140m long with a 40m beam, and have a dwt capacity of 25,000t. They will have accommodation for 41, a helideck, and will be capable of submersion to 20m below sea level.
A CGI image of two TML vessels connected to a topside
“This is a breakthrough for SeaMetric,” said Johan F Andresen, SeaMetric’s CEO. “We have negotiated a very good contract with a very strong and capable fabrication group. CPFCC is a subsidiary of CNPC, a company with 1.4 million employees, about the same as the entire Norwegian workforce. We also have options for the construction of one more TML heavy lift system and two 180-meter-long submersible heavy transport vessels (HTVs). These vessels will be similar to the vessels now being built, and they have the capacity to support a 30,000 tonnes TML system.”
The vessels will be financed with a combination of equity and a bond loan. Fearnley Fonds have placed a bond loan of $60m, with a possible subsequent extension to $105m.
A CGI image of two TML vessels connected to a topside Two TMLs topside A CGI image of one half of the TML system Single TML A CGI image shows two TMLs moving into position to lift a jacket from a transport barge TML jacket
