McDermott International has signed a deal for the design and construction of a new high-spec dynamically-positioned combination S-Lay deepwater vessel with a 2,000-ton crane.

The vessel, tentatively named Derrick Lay Vessel 2000 (DLV2000), will be built at Keppel Singmarine in Singapore and is expected to take approximately 2.5 years to complete. No contract value has been disclosed.

“DLV2000 is expected to address a market demand we consider to be extremely robust for deepwater pipelines as well as our traditional markets,” said Stephen M. Johnson, Chairman, President and CEO. “A combination heavy lift and deepwater S-Lay pipelay vessel is an important asset for our expanding fleet, focusing on the subsea construction market.”

Developed by Keppel’s ship design arm, Marine Technology Development (MTD), the DLV2000 will be equipped to support advanced deepwater pipelay operations that will allow pipelines to be installed at depths of up to 3,048 m (10,000 ft). An economical vessel transit speed is expected to be 12 knots, with a top speed of 14 knots. On completion, the vessel will be able to accommodate up to 400 personnel.

DLV2000 is the second newbuild vessel under construction for McDermott’s fleet. In August last year the company signed a contract to build Lay Vessel 108, sister ship to the recently completed subsea construction vessel the Lay Vessel North Ocean 105.

Offshore