Kongsberg Maritime Develops Mooring Solution For Offshore Construction Vessels

Kongsberg Maritime has developed a new mooring-capable solution for Offshore Construction Vessels (OSCVs), expanding their capabilities beyond current limitations.

This system allows OSCVs to pre-lay mooring lines alongside their existing suction anchor functions, addressing the shortage of vessels available for large-scale mooring installations.

The solution incorporates a purpose-built anchor handling winch, shark jaws, and stern rollers into the vessel’s design at the construction stage.

This enables OSCVs to take on mooring operations independently, reducing reliance on additional vessels.

Key Benefits of the New System

Extended Operational Scope: OSCVs can handle a broader range of offshore tasks, reducing the need for extra support vessels.

Cost Savings: Expanding the functionality of OSCVs creates operational efficiencies, bringing down overall costs for field developers.

Enhanced Safety and Efficiency: The inclusion of winches and stern rollers allows for safer and more efficient over-stern mooring line deployment, a method commonly used by Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels.

Flexible Installation Options: The winch can be permanently installed or used as a portable system that is located only when required. The shark jaws and stern rollers, however, are permanently fixed to the vessel.

Multi-Use Equipment: The subsea crane, a standard feature on OSCVs, can lift and install suction piles while also handling the weight of mooring chains.

The winch package includes a drum for work wire and two cable lifters for managing chains. Combined with the vessel’s advanced Dynamic Positioning (DP) system and spacious deck, these features make it an efficient installation platform.

Currently, OSCVs primarily install large suction piles or driven piles on the seabed using onboard cranes and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).

While some mooring lines are placed using temporary methods, Kongsberg’s new system enables these vessels to carry out such operations more safely and effectively.

The offshore industry is in a growing need for vessels with subsea cranes and sufficient deck space to handle large anchors and mooring lines.

OSCVs have now become a practical alternative to specialised mooring vessels, offering greater flexibility in offshore field development projects.

Runar Hjelle, Sales Director for Offshore Construction & Support at Kongsberg Maritime, says that these enhancements would allow construction vessels to take on a greater share of mooring installations.

He pointed out that since OSCVs already support various offshore development activities, adding mooring capabilities makes them even more valuable assets for vessel owners.

Reference: Kongsberg Maritime

Source: Maritime Shipping News