IHC launches Subsea 7's Seven Rio

Royal IHC has successfully launched Subsea 7's 550 t pipelaying vessel, Seven Rio, at its shipyard in Krimpen aan den Ijssel, the Netherlands. The naming ceremony was performed by Anelise Lara, Petrobras Executive Manager for the Libra Project.

Subsea 7 selected IHC for the construction of this vessel because of its strong track record in vessel delivery and quality of service. The Seven Rio is the second of four vessels in total ordered specifically for operation in Brazilian waters. When delivered in 2016, the Seven Cruzeiro and Seven Sun will complete the fleet of pipelaying vessels that will be working under contract for Petrobras in Brazil.

Additional vessels constructed by IHC include: the Seven Oceans (a pipelaying vessel completed in 2007); the Seven Seas (a pipelaying vessel completed in 2008); the Seven Atlantic (a dive support vessel completed in 2009); and the Seven Pacific (a pipelaying vessel completed in 2010). The Seven Waves is another pipelaying vessel, which was delivered ahead of schedule earlier this year, and is now in service with Petrobras.

The Seven Rio has an overall length of 146 m, a beam of 30 m and a Class-2 dynamic positioning system. The vessel is equipped with a vertical (tiltable) lay system – with a 550 t top tension capacity – and twin ROVs. She is fitted with to under-deck storage carousels with a capacity for 2500 t and 1500 t of product respectively. The construction of the Seven Rio is comfortable on schedule.

"The launch of the Seven Rio is yet another milestone in the long and successful co-operation between Subsea 7 and IHC," said Arjan Klijnsoon, Managing Director of IHC's Offshore division. "We are proud to be providing Subsea 7 with another pipelaying vessel to join its sister vessel, the Seven Waves, in Brazilian waters."

"We are honoured that Mrs Lara officiated at the naming ceremony of the Seven Rio and we look forward to this new vessel joining the Seven Waves on operational contracts for Petrobras in Brazil." said Richard Felix, Vice President - Commercial, Subsea 7 Brazil.

Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/28112014/ihc-launches-subsea-7s-seven-rio/