Solstad Offshore and SBM Offshore expand long-standing partnership with a new multi-purpose deepwater installation and construction vessel backed by a 14-year charter
CIMC Raffles has secured a contract from a Solstad Offshore–SBM Offshore joint venture to build a next-generation multi-purpose multi-purpose deepwater Offshore Installation installation and construction vessel, with delivery targeted for the first half of 2029.
The newly formed joint venture in which Solstad Offshore holds a 50.1% ownership stake and SBM Offshore 49.9%. Upon delivery, the vessel will be owned by the joint venture, with Solstad Offshore serving as ship manager. The investment is underpinned by an initial 14-year charter agreement with SBM Offshore, providing long-term employment for the vessel and reinforcing the partners’ long-standing collaboration in the offshore energy sector.
Commenting on the contract signing, Lars Peder Solstad, CEO of Solstad Offshore ASA, said:“This is an important milestone for us and for our partnership with SBM Offshore. We are pleased to have the shipbuilding contract in place and to commence our collaboration with CIMC Raffles on the construction of this next-generation deepwater installation and construction vessel.”
The new-build vessel builds upon the proven operational success of the Construction Support Vessel (CSV) Normand Installer, which has been jointly owned and operated by Solstad Offshore and SBM Offshore since 2006. Developed through close collaboration among Solstad Offshore, SBM Offshore and Salt Ship Design, the vessel incorporates the latest requirements of the global deepwater installation and subsea construction market. The design has been optimized to deliver enhanced operational efficiency, flexibility and sustainability for future offshore developments.
Primarily intended for FPSO support, subsea installation and offshore construction activities, the vessel will be capable of performing complex operations in both shallow-water and deepwater environments, with operational capability in water depths of up to 4,000 meters. The vessel will provide advanced integrated subsea construction capabilities and support a broad range of offshore energy projects, including subsea installation, mooring system installation, SURF operations, inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR), and FPSO-related offshore construction activities.
The vessel will have an overall length of 132.6 meters, a beam of 32 meters, and accommodation for up to 100 personnel.
Key mission equipment includes:
- 500-ton Active Heave Compensated (AHC) Offshore Crane
- Advanced Deepwater Winch System
- Integrated Carousel System
- A-Frame Launch System
- Overboarding Sheave System (OBS)Overboarding System (OBS)
- Launch and recovery systems (LARS) for Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) Remotely Operated Vehicle Launch and Recovery System (ROV LARS)
Designed and constructed to Methanol Ready standards, the vessel will feature DP2 and will be classed by DNV.
In recent years, CIMC Raffles has continuously strengthened its position in the high-end offshore engineering sector, accumulating extensive experience in the design, construction and delivery of FPSOs, offshore platforms, offshore support vessels and specialized engineering vessels.
The signing of this contract demonstrates the strong confidence that leading global offshore energy companies place in CIMC Raffles’ integrated design, construction and project execution capabilities. It further reinforces the company’s competitive position in the global high-end offshore equipment market and marks another important milestone in the company’s offshore engineering business development.
