Offshore Supply Vessels
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Contents |
Description
These are cargo vessels that regularly transport goods, supplies or equipment in support of exploration or production of offshore mineral or energy resources. Offshore supply vessels are typically operated by shipowners: either companies set up specifically to own and operate such vessels or companies combine with other vessel operations like salvage, shipping, etc.
Mission & Design constraints
The general mission of supporting offshore oil and gas exploration and production can be sub-divided according to specific mission requirements. Also vessels may involve in more than one kind of such specific missions. Like every other design criteria, optimizing based on the priority is done in the design process, and also meeting the safety requirements.
These specific missions include:
- seismic survey to locate oil and gas bearing areas
- towing of rigs and platforms to their location, positioning them, and laying anchoring & mooring equipments
- supplying rigs and platforms with necessary personnel, equipment, stores, provisions, etc.
- Subsea operations like ROV operation, diving support, inspection, and maintenance
- safety standby
Types of Offshore Supply Vessels
Offshore vessels can be divided into the following types:
Platform Supply Vessels
These are used for transporting supplies to the rigs and oil platform and return other cargoes to shore. The supplies include fuel, fresh water, equipments, consumables, stores and provision for the operation of the oil platforms and for the personnel onboard. The design and construction of these vessels depend on the working environment - weather conditions, distance from the shore, and hence design varies by location.
Multi-purpose Supply vessels
These are similar to the Platform Supply Vessels but are fitted with additional systems for example, for subsea inspection, maintenance and repair.
Anchor Handling vessels
These are used to towing and anchor handling and are fitted.
Seismic vessels
Crew boats
Safety / Standby vessel
Combination vessels
Offshore vessels systems
Special Systems
- Sub sea Intervention Services
- ROV Operations
- Deepwater precision lifting and installation
- Transportation of pipes, cement, liquid cargo, equipment from pipe lay vessels, drilling platforms & ships
- Oil recovery systems
- FIFI systems
- Oil well stimulation
- Methanol injection
- Moonpool/Guidewire based module replacement operations
- Helicopter operations
- Surface works – maintenance of floating hoses/SBM buoys
