Imtech Marine Completes 3 High-Tech Offshore Ships in Singapore

Recently Imtech Marine, specialized in system integration, successfully completed three innovative new-build vessel projects in Singapore; Seven Borealis for Subsea 7, Rockpiper for a subsidiary of Royal Boskalis Westminster NV and Flintstone for Tideway, part of the DEME Group. The ships will all operate in the oil and gas market. Imtech Marine has combined specific capabilities of its offices in Rotterdam, Shanghai and Singapore. The supply package for two of the three ships includes advanced dynamic positioning (DP), diesel electric propulsion, vessel management (VMS), automation, navigation and communication. The design and engineering was done in Rotterdam, production in Shanghai and installation & commissioning by the Imtech Marine team in Singapore.

‘We were able to guarantee the  specific competences in our worldwide network in the most efficient way’, explains Eric van den Adel, Managing Director of Imtech Marine. ‘Imtech Marine has the in-house expertise to integrate technical systems on board and to anticipate the complex balance of engines, DP-system and thrusters. This, combined with our globally coordinated operation, makes us a strategic partner for our clients. A partner who offers services and solutions throughout the entire life cycle of a ship, both during construction and throughout the operational phase through service and maintenance.’

Seven Borealis
Seven Borealis is a DP pipe laying and heavy lift (5,000-ton) construction vessel, built for Subsea 7 at the Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore. The ship is designed to work in very deep water. The advanced DP3, delivered and integrated by Imtech Marine, allows the ship to manoeuvre precisely in all weather conditions. During lifting operation the DP makes it possible, without the need of anchorage, to place components for oil and gas extraction on offshore constructions: both at the surface and up to 6,000 metres depth. During the new build of the heavy lift construction vessel the need to extend the functionality of the Seven Borealis was identified. S-lay as well as J-lay pipe laying systems and provisions for future flexible pipe laying installations needed to be added. Imtech Marine worked closely together with Subsea 7 and Sembawang to manage implementation of this functional extension. Imtech Marine also provided the energy-distribution and the diesel electric propulsion. Standardised motor control centres were designed to reduce life cycle costs. Additionally, Imtech Marine delivered and integrated navigation and communication systems, together with the VMS, into the navigation bridge consoles for transit operations, and working bridge consoles to support heavy lift and pipe laying operations.

Rockpiper
Rockpiper is an innovative fall pipe rock dumping vessel of Royal Boskalis Westminster. Imtech Marine integrated the electro-technical and automation systems and made the functional descriptions for the VMS and propulsion system on this Rockpiper. Imtech Marine in the Netherlands reviewed the functional design and engineering, Imtech Marine Shanghai built the low voltage and emergency switchboards and Imtech Marine Singapore carried out the installation supervision and commissioning. Imtech Marine prepared Rockpiper’s high-voltage board with the possible addition of a fourth diesel generator and an extra thruster for future extensions. The Rockpiper was built at the Keppel Singmarine Yard in Singapore.

Flintstone
The Flintstone is the largest fall pipe rock dumping vessel of Tideway, part of the DEME Group and was built at the Sembawang Shipyard. DEME was looking for a strategic partner who could also provide service during operations. The work for Imtech Marine started with the assignment for the main power equipment and gradually expanded. Imtech Marine was asked to draw up the specifications for the power management system, the LV and HV power distribution and the systems for navigation and DP, as well as to supply and integrate those systems. Imtech Marine carried out the project management and did the commissioning support at the shipyard in Singapore. At the moment the ship is at Huisman-Itrec in Schiedam to finalise the stone dumping system and for extensions to the DP-system, the bridge installation and the network.

The Flintstone is built completely in line with the ‘Lloyds Environmental Protection Code’, for example realizing a minimal emission of nitrogen oxide.  The energy generated as a result of the lowering of the fall pipe is returned to the ship’s electricity net, installed by Imtech Marine. Imtech also installed the diesel electric propulsion system. Tideway can deploy the Flintstone in the Arctic Ocean thanks to its ice notification. The ship, with its fall pipe of 2,000 metres, can also be put to use in the deeper oil fields of Brazil, West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. This is in line with the need for deep-sea mining activities, in order to meet the demands for energy in the future.