Norway’S MariNe iNduStrieS
Offshore drives accommodation market
Recent months have seen a number of companies invest in new generation
monohull accommodation vessels.
A
slew of orders for new
generation accommodation
vessels see investors tempting oil
companies with claimed cost savings and
a number of other advantages compared
with the traditional offshore use of
semisubmersibles.
The most recent order for this kind
of vessel has seen Sembawang Shipyard
Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
SembCorp Marine, secure a Sing$300
million contract from Equinox Offshore
accommodation Ltd, to convert a
number of passenger/car ferries to DP2
accommodation and repair vessels (ARV)
during the period 2008–2010.
Under the terms of the contract,
the yard will rebuild and refurbish the ocean Hotels’ new vessels are part of a growing market for monohull accommodation
existing cabins onboard on behalf of vessels.
Equinox Offshore – which is owned by
Norwegian interests – and add another
50 cabins to house 400-500 people, also company founded in 2007, which such accommodation is growing quickly,
adding new offices and public areas such intends to become a leading player driven by offshore fixed/floating field
as a restaurant and cinema. The ships’ in the floating accommodation ship developments, growth in maintenance on
car decks will be converted to workshops market. The company has entered into operating fields, and decommissioning
- to be equipped with owner-supplied a contract with Davie Yards in Québec, of old fields. The company believes that
equipment and machinery. Other Canada for the construction of two (plus accommodation ships hold competitive
important work includes the installation 2+2) VS4004 accommodation vessels, advantages in ‘benign’ operating areas, and
of stern thrusters with DP2 capabilities at a cost per vessel of around US$112.5 also notes that the average age of existing
and new 60tonne and 80tonne cranes, million. The first is due for delivery in the accommodation units is circa 20 years,
plus an offshore gangway to enable those third quarter of 2009, with the following most of these units being conversions,
accommodated onboard to ‘walk to vessels delivered every three-four months rather than purpose-built vessels or
work.’ thereafter. platforms.
Equinox Offshore has opted for
conversions rather than newbuilds, but New kids on the block Strong and stable
several other entrants in this market have Ocean Hotels may be a new name Demand for accommodation units is being
taken the newbuild route, and Norwegian in the offshore industry and a newly driven by several factors, which should
owners and naval architects are already formed company, but the organisations ensure strong and stable growth, says Ocean
heavily involved in this fast-developing and people behind it have a long track Hotels, including many new installation
market. record, as a recent investor presentation projects offshore, fuelled by high
Among them is Vik-Sandvik, the from Ocean Hotels pointed out - Vik- levels of exploration and development
well-known Norwegian naval architect Sandvik is an investor in the project, as is activity; the need for maintenance
responsible for the design of the VS4004 Davie (itself owned by Teco, a Norwegian activity offshore, which is driven by the
from offshore newcomer Ocean Hotels, company) and companies controlled by number of installations in operation,
and for the design of new accommodation investor George Economou. average age, and HSE requirements;
vessels ordered by Edda Accommodation Ocean Hotels describes itself as and the growing market for platform
(see The Naval Architect, September 2007, ‘the first player to offer purpose-built and rig decommissioning work, which
p30). accommodation vessels outside the is currently highly visible and driven by
Ocean Hotels is a Cyprus-domiciled North Sea’, and notes that demand for depletion of existing fields.
46 The Naval Architect January 2008
NA Jan - p46+47.indd 46 07/01/2008 14:15:25
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