Allseas Solitaire Project
The Solitaire project saw the conversion of a 120,000 ton bulk carrier into the world’s largest and most sophisticated pipelaying vessel for the Allseas Group, the leading international offshore pipelaying contractor. The initial hull conversion commenced in Singapore but due to extreme delays, the partly completed vessel was brought to Swan Hunter for major hull completion, overall outfitting, testing, commissioning and sea trials. The project showed our capability for speedy re-engineering of the majority of the vessel, the ability to ramp up construction manpower at short notice to meet the extremely tight delivery schedule, manage a number of major complex subcontracts, and deliver the fully commissioned vessel after less than 21 months in the yard. The vessel was over 285m long (excluding stinger) with a breadth of 40.6m and a displacement at sailaway of 70,250 tons. It was powered by eight diesel engines producing over 51 mw of power and had eight large computer controlled azimuthing thrusters for propulsion and station-keeping. Swan Hunter was responsible for installing the majority of all cabling and pipework, including much pipework replacement, and completely outfitted the 420 man accommodation to a very high standard as well as undertaking the complete installation, commissioning and testing of the extensive mechanical handling systems for pipe welding, coating and movement control. The heavy duty craneage available at the yard was ideal for the installation of the many large items of onboard equipment including the special pipe handling cranes which dominate the profile of the vessel. Since its delivery to the client, the vessel has been successfully operating around the world for many major international oil & gas corporations breaking many pipelaying records in the process.