Kim Heng Unveils Upgraded Geotechnical Survey Vessel ‘Bridgewater Discovery’

Singapore’s offshore marine service provider Kim Heng Ltd has officially launched its newly refurbished geotechnical survey vessel, Bridgewater Discovery.

On April 15, 2024, Kim Heng held a christening ceremony to celebrate the vessel’s readiness.

The vessel, flying the Korean flag, is owned by Adira Renewables, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kim Heng.

The project is a result of collaboration with South Korea’s Soiltech Engineering Co Ltd (STE), a company with over 26 years of expertise in spoil investigation.

Bridgewater Discovery, originally built in 2008, underwent a major rebuild in 2024 to transform it into a state of the art geotechnical survey vessel.

The vessel now spans 76 meters in length and 20 meters in beam. It is equipped with a dynamic positioning (DP2) system to maintain its position during offshore operations.

One of the key features of the upgraded vessel is its heave-compensated twin tower drilling rig, capable of drilling up to 300 meters below the seabed.

It also boasts an impressive suite of geotechnical equipment, including:

• WISON-APB Classic CPT,
• Seismic CPT,
• Geomil Manta 200 seabed CPT systems,
• A PS Logger for measuring in-situ seismic velocities ad geotechnical properties,
• A Vibrocore system for collecting continuous sediment cores up to 6 meters deep, and
• A comprehensive seabed and sub-seabed sampling system for accurate geotechnical and environmental data collection.

The vessel has a 60 ton knuckle boom crane with man-riding capability, accommodation for up to 59 personnel, and an onboard 55-square meter soil laboratory.

The vessel was acquired in 2023 by Ruhm Mazu Sdn Bhd, which is 49% owned by Kim Heng. As part of the deal, nine offshore support vessels were purchased for a total of USD 9.3 million.

Kim Heng’s cost-effective strategy involves acquiring idle vessels at low prices and refurbishing them at its two Singapore-based shipyards to add operational value.

In February 2024, Adira Renewables signed a four year vessel framework agreement (VFA) with a major international client, South Korea’s Soiltech Engineering.

The agreement involves engineering, procurement, and construction services, with Kim Heng providing vessels to support geotechnical investigations for offshore wind projects in South Korea.

According to Deputy CEO Justin Tan, the identity of the ultimate client and the contract value are confidential under a non-disclosure agreement.

However, it is confirmed that the Bridgewater Discovery is likely to be deployed in the pre-construction phase of an 8.2 GW offshore wind farm complex off South Jeolla Province in South Korea.

Reference: kimheng

Source: Maritime Shipping News