A&P Group to Transform Talisman’s Vessels into “Floating Hotels”

A&P Group has won an order from global oil and gas company Talisman Energy to turn two new vessels into “floating hotels.”

The Group’s Tyne yard at Hebburn is transforming two subsea construction vessels into accommodation blocks for engineers on offshore oil platforms, enabling them to literally “walk to work” over the choppy waters of the North Sea.

The contract involves fitting steel decks, platforms and gangways onto the Reef Despina and Reef Larissa, which will be anchored alongside rigs in the Montrose and Auk oil fields, over 100 miles east of Aberdeen, so the men can live on board and make the short walk across the gangways, over the waves to the rig.

Production Director Darren Brown said: “In simple terms, there will be a deck put on and a gangway installed, which will be used to get on and off the rig. The men will eat and sleep on the ship, then get up and walk to the workface.

“They’re like floating hotels, with up to 50 service engineers living on each vessel.”

Talisman Energy, whose North Sea operations form a major part of its portfolio, has chartered the Chinese-built vessels from Reef Subsea, who recently contracted A&P to carry out a multi-million pound upgrade, which included changes to the exhaust systems, accommodation areas and supporting the rebuild of the ROV (remotely operated vehicle) control centre.

The construction of the decks will involve 28 tonnes of steel, with a further 10 tonnes for the platforms and walkways. A team of 50 are working around-the-clock on each 98.6 metre long vessel, berthed at Bede Quay, and the job should be complete in three weeks.

Mr Brown added: “Talisman naturally want the work completed as quickly as possible, chartering these vessels is expensive, so it’s a very intense job.

“Talisman are a new client and this is a valuable order. It gives us the chance to prove ourselves to them and if they are happy with the quality, the safety and the cost, hopefully we’ll win repeat business.”

In addition to the Reef vessels, the yard has the 215 metre long container ship, the Louds Island, in dry dock and the oil products tanker Seychelles Pride is berthed at the West Quay, awaiting a major overhaul of its engines, underwater propulsion system, sea valves and paint inspection.

The 38104 DWT tonne Louds Island is undergoing a huge and complex paint job, involving the application of 6000 litres of Intersleek 900, a specialist paint which is exceptionally smooth and slippery and prevents organisms attaching to the vessel.

This helps the vessel slide through the water more quickly and easily, making substantial fuel and emission savings.

Brown said: “It’s a very onerous application procedure, it has to be applied within certain temperature and humidity levels and if it goes out of those parameters you have to blast it off and start all over again.

“Getting from the first coat to the second coat has to be done within five hours; you’re heavily reliant upon weather conditions – which, of course, are changing constantly in the north east of England. It’s tricky but I’m pleased to say it’s successfully completed, it’s a good job.”

A&P sales and marketing manager, Martin Robertson, added: “It’s gratifying to see both of our berths and the dry dock occupied following some recent wins.

“It’s especially pleasing to see the Reef Despina and Reef Larissa return, following the successful project we delivered on them earlier in the year.

“Overall the yard has been busy in the first half of the year – in addition to the ship repair work we have also been working on a number of fabrication projects for clients in the oil and gas and renewables sectors. The challenge now is to ensure that the second half is just as busy!”

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Offshore Nieuws Staff, May 25, 2012; Image : Northnews.co.uk