ISLAND WELLSERVER elected Ship of the Year 2008

The offshore service vessel ISLAND WELLSERVER, owned by the Norwegian company Island Offshore and built by Aker Yards ASA, Langsten, was today declared Ship of the Year 2008 by the Norwegian State Secretary Rikke Lind. ISLAND WELLSERVER is a subsea riserless oil and gas well intervention vessel, and represent new technology in the offshore market. The ship also introduces new standards for working environment, safety and comfort, according to Ms. Lind.

The ship is a result of a vision that the subsea well intervention market should be served by a vessel, instead of a drilling rig, which so far has been the case. “The vessel is a masterpiece in Norwegian shipbuilding and reflects the high market demands in the booming sector of shipbased light well intervention services”, says State Secretary Lind.

Described as a Subsea Riserless Well Intervention Vessel with a running wire line through a subsea lubricator system, she is equipped with the most advanced systems available. She will perform production logging, plugging and gauging operations, re-perforations and downhole mechanical works.

Built to the highest DNV Comfort Class notation, she has a noise and vibration level similar to a modern cruise ship. This makes her the world’s only offshore vessel with DNV‘s highest Comfort Class, V(1) C(1). The HSE philosophy is an important aspect for the ship owning company who aims to give the crew the best living and working environment possible.

The prestigeous SHIP OF THE YEAR-award is instituted by the major Norwegian shipping magazine SKIPSREVYEN. Price candidates are nominated by the readers of the magazine, but the final election is the responsibility of a jury consisting of the Publisher and Editor of SKIPSREVYEN, Mr. Asle B. Strønen, the former MD of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association Mr. Rolf Sæther and the MD of the sales and marketing organization Norwegian Shipyards, Mr. Birger Skår.

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ISLAND WELLSERVER is designed by Rolls-Royce Marine and given the notation UT 767 CD. The development of the design is a result of a long time relationship between owners and consultants, both located in Ulsteinvik on the west coast of Norway.

The owners Island Offshore had a vision that the subsea oil well intervention market rather should be served by cheap vessels than expensive semisubmersible drilling rigs. The company teamed up with topside specialists FMC Technologies and Oceaneering who developed the unique equipment, and when Statoil (now StatoilHydro) tendered for a long time charter of an installation with such capabilities, Island Offshore deceided to offer for that tender. Based on the know-how achieved from other advanced vessels in the fleet, the UT 767 CD was developed in clos co-operation with Rolls-Royce Marine.

Island Offshore won the long-time time charter contract with Statoil (6 years – NOK 600m), and the newbuilding contract was placed with Aker Yards in October 2005, who assigned the work to Langsten Yard. The vessel was delivered from the yard in april 2008.

The main duties for the new vessel will be maintenance and repair of oil and gas wells with a riserless wireline intervention system. The vessel will also operate ROVs for other operations on the sea bed. She is tailor-made for continuous, uninterrupted services in one of the most severe environmental areas in the world, as the prime area of operation is the Norwegian continental shelf. The ship can operate light well intervention work in significant wave height of up to 6m with wind speed of 20,3 Vw(m/s) and in water depths ranging from 70 m to 2,500 m..

The topside integration unit is designed for down hole operations as well as subsea construction and support (inspection, maintenance and repair). For well intervention conditions the unit will be able to maintain continuous, unrestricted intervention operations in defined environmental conditions and in water depths ranging from 70 m to 2,500 m. The operation implies entry into live wells and a limited return of contaminated fluids to deck level. Tasks include production logging, plugging and gauging operations, re-perforations and downhole mechanical work.

During a light well intervention operation, accomodation is needed for 55 – 60 people and the ISLAND WELLSERVER has accomodation for a total of 95 persons i single cabins.

The deck arrangement is designed for safe and efficient operations and with comprehensive intergration of auxiliary systems and functions for optimum utilization of available deck areas. The deck is dominated by a module handling tower to launch and retrieve the lubricator package. A large working deck area has been specified so that all equipment can be handled horizontally on skids. The deck crane has a lifting capacity of 150 tons at 11 metres. The moon pool has a net opening of about 7,8 x 7,8m with a guiding system for launching and recovery of lubricator stack. The two ROVs are arranged in enclosed garages aft of accommodation.

The vessel’s propulsion is provided by a diesel electric system consisting of four main generator sets and one auxiliary genset. Two azipull thrusters with pulling propellers provide the main propulsion and manoeuvring forces. The vessel’s speed is about 14 knots at draft of 7.7m. ISLAND WELLSERVER  is further equipped with two supersilent tunnel thrusters and one swing-up azimuth thruster, powered by a diesel engine which also drives a generator and provides yet another level of redundancy.

Aker Yards, Langsten is situated in Tomrefjord in Møre og Romsdal County. They were established in 1945 and have inherited a tradition of skill, problem solving, and professional competence in ship building. They have delivered severel high-tech and innovative specialized vessels which has put them on the leading edge in their field.

Aker Yards, Langsten prides itself in the construction of state of the art, advanced specialized vessels. They have delivered seismic ships, icebreakers, high-tech offshore vessels, and naval vessels.

Aker Yards, Langsten is proably Norway´s most moderen shipyard. Their huge outfitting hall is a major advantage since all the tasks can be undertaken under cover. This benefits the workforce and their effectiveness on many levels.

Aker Yards, Langsten has a large docking area which also makes it an attractive shipyard for both repairs and reconstruction.

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The Island Offshore Group is a leading provider of services to the offshore industry ranging from Platform Supply and Anchor Handling to Advanced Subsea Operations including Increased Oil Recovery (IOR) and Light Well Intervention (LWI). The fleet consists of high quality vessels with an average age of less than two years. 11 vessels are currently operating in Brazil, Mexico, USA and in the North Sea.
The Island Offshore Group comprises ship owning companies where Island Offshore Shipholding LP holds the majority shareholding. Technical and marine operations for all vessels are handled by Island Offshore Management AS in Ulsteinvik, whilst IOR and Subsea operations are handled by Island Offshore Subsea AS in Stavanger. Island Offshore is fully certified according to ISO standards 9001 and 14001.
Island Offshore has a distinct objective to maintain and operate its fleet at least in accordance with national and international laws and regulations, in particular with respect to Health, Safety and Environmental issues. All employees shall be highly qualified and perform with the highest working standards and professionalism in all areas.

The Ulstein family has a 30 years history as owners of advanced service vessels. Following the acquisition of “Havila Chieftain”, a 1984 built anchor handler type ME 303 in 1999, members of the Ulstein family founded Island Offshore in 2000. Island Offshore took delivery of its first new building, a UT 722 L from Aker Langsten in December 2000. The vessel went straight on to a 2-year charter party for Statoil, which were completed in January 2003 and has since been on hire to Petrobras. Subsequently, the Ulstein family has expanded their ownership interests through strategic partnerships with industry leaders.

In January 2004, Island Offshore Management AS, which is majority owned by Island Offshore Shipholding LP, was established in order to manage fleet operations. Island Offshore Management AS has developed management systems in compliance with the guidelines from Det Norske Veritas and is certified by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate according to the ISM-code.

Island Offshore Shipholding LP is jointly owned with Edison Chouest Offshore, the leading operator in United States for advanced and high quality service vessels. ECO owns and operates a fleet of approximately 150 offshore vessels worldwide with the majority in the U.S, Mexico, Brazil and West Africa.

In August 2005, Island Offshore Subsea was established. The company is jointly owned by Island Offshore Management AS and leading employees, and specializes in developing and implementing customized engineering solutions for Light Well Intervention and other sub sea well operations.

In 2006 a joint venture with Edison Chouest Offshore in Brazil was established and there are three vessels under construction.

In 2007 Island Offshore became leading shareholder in MARACC ASA and signed management agreement for supervision and operation a semi-submersible  GM 4000 rig under construction in China.

There is no doubt that the Owners believe strongly in this sector of the offshore market. In July they contracted another ship of Rolls-Royce UT 767 CDL design at Aker Yards, probably to be built at Langsten. The contract price is about NOK 1.2 billion, and the delivery is planned for third quarter 2011. After delivery of this vessel Island Offshore will have four RWLI in operation, and strengthen their position as a pioneers and market leaders in this segment.