Kabina introduces new, efficient accommodation vessels

Following the industry feedback from the energy and construction sectors Kabina has developed the design for its game-changing accommodation vessel fleet.

Kabina launched its original design concept last November at the Oil Council World Assembly meeting in London and has conducted further research across the accommodation market to find out how the design should evolve.

Flexible and secure accommodation vessels

The benefits of improved, flexible and secure accommodation vessels have been acknowledged by the industry. However a key concern has been cost given the dramatic fall in the oil price.

“I liked the Kabina concept and it is right to re-think accommodation for workers. However the original design was a little too luxurious and so it is good to streamline it for the current market”, comments Emmanuel Garaud, Economics and Business Development Manager, GDF SUEZ Exploration & Production.

Kabina’s design team has considered ways to reduce the specification without compromising Kabina’s purpose, which is to provide emotional and physical well-being for teams, often working in remote and challenging locations.

An efficient fleet

“It was clear to us that we had to find further efficiencies in our proposed fleet given the commercial pressures now being exerted on operators in the field. We have done this by simplifying the design, reducing the areas given to public spaces, reducing the length to 87 m from 100 m, the beam from 30 m to 27 m, and by using the standard hull for 300 and 800 capacity versions. We are now in discussion with shipyards to see how the build cost based on the new design can be reduced without undermining quality or delivery time”, explains Per Jonsson, Chief Executive at Kabina.

Neil Cheston, Sales Director at Kabina commented: “In this climate of low oil prices and culled budgets, Kabina has been making good use of its time to simplify our offering. The Kabina barge now comprises a reduced-footprint platform, capable of accommodating any number of personnel up to a maximum of 800.”

Environmentally friendly

The design retains all key elements of the original including an internal ‘street’ ensuring that every cabin has an outside window, ensuring fresh air and natural light. Furthermore, the barge remains environmentally-efficient offering customers the option of zero-discharge, in common with the latest cruise ship technology. 

Either tied up to the quayside or, in a less welcoming environment, anchored offshore, Kabina's barge comes with full catering, power generation, waste disposal, laundry, medical and recreational facilities, enabling the entire floating community to operate independently of the land.    

Depending on the job in hand, charterers may then opt for a helideck, docking station for tenders or vehicle depot, to be supplied as bolt-on accessories. In this way, Kabina has achieved significant savings in both build cost and lead time.

Adapted from press release by Cecilia Rehn

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/13022015/kabina-introduces-new-efficient-accommodation-vessels/