Dockyard completes first complex, sophisticated ROV support vessel

Thursday, 10 February 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Sunimalee Dias

Colombo Dockyard (CDL) yesterday unveiled the first highly complex and sophisticated vessel set to operate in oil offshore exploration in Brazil to be chartered by Petrobras.

The vessel will be used for exploration activities by Petrobras in their offshore oil reserves in deep water.

CDL Chairman A. Nakauchi speaking at the naming ceremony of the ship said that while this was one of four contracted and delivered ships, this has proven their capability in shipbuilding with sophistication.

Owned by Greatship India, the vessel “Greatship Rohini” is the third of a series of four sister vessels and is the “R” Class Multipurpose Platform Support Vessel well recognised by the international oil and gas industry as a high capacity and high performing vessel with exceptional capabilities, competing with most of the European designs such as Ulstein (UT) and STX designs of similar class.

The uniqueness of this vessel is that it is the first Platform/ROV Support vessel built by CDL with capabilities for attending highly complex sea operations, in the oil and gas industry and is also the first vessel built in Colombo that will be chartered by the world famous Petrobras, the world’s fourth largest oil company in Brazil.

The vessel is equipped with highly sophisticated Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV), with its auxiliary launch and recovery systems. The ROV is an underwater robot, with multifaceted complex maneuvering, used in the offshore industry for various duties on sub-sea structures; hydrocarbon sample extraction, well head and pipeline inspection, repairs and modification and even damage control work. It is unmanned, highly maneuverable ROV, operated by a team of highly skilled pilots, located aboard the vessel.

The ROV fitted with many cameras and other sensory devices is connected to the vessel by an umbilical cable carrying electrical power, video and data signals back and forth between the operator and the vehicle.

CDL Managing Director/CEO Mangala Yapa addressing the gathering said that while this was a unique vessel built by CDL, it was vastly different from its previous sister ships as it was upgraded with additional cranes, A Frames, enhanced accommodation facilities and ROV equipment.

Greatship India Chairman Bharath Sheth said that this was the largest order given to any ship yard by the company. It was pointed out that the relationship between the two organisations was reinforced at multiple levels and this is seen in the exemplary outcome of the final product.

Greatship India is a wholly owned subsidiary of India’s largest private sector shipping company, the Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd.