DCV Balder
{{Short description|Deepwater construction vessel built in 1978}}
| {{Infobox ship begin |display title=DCV Balder}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Balder off Trinidad.JPG |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country= |Ship flag= |Ship name=Balder |Ship namesake = Baldr (god in Norse mythology) |Ship owner= |Ship operator=Heerema Marine Contractors |Ship ordered= |Ship awarded= |Ship builder=*Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding{{cite web|url=http://hmc.heerema.com/Default.aspx?tabid=379 |title=DCV Balder |publisher=Heerema Marine Contractors |accessdate=26 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724134739/http://hmc.heerema.com/Default.aspx?tabid=379 |archivedate=24 July 2011 }}
|Ship yard number= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened= |Ship completed= 1978 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship registry=Panama City, {{flag|Panama}} |Ship identification=*Call sign 3EWK
|Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship captured= |Ship status=In service |Ship fate= |Ship notes= |Ship badge= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= Deepwater Construction Vessel |Ship tonnage={{GT|75374}} |Ship displacement= 104,355 tonnes |Ship length= {{convert|154|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|86|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (118 m incl. J-Lay) |Ship height= {{convert|101|m|abbr=on}} (J-Lay tower to workdeck) |Ship draft= {{convert|27|m|ftin|abbr=on}} max |Ship depth={{convert|42|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship hold depth= |Ship ice class= |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=7 × 3,500 kW azimuth thrusters and two propellers. |Ship speed= |Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship boats= |Ship capacity= |Ship complement=350 berths |Ship crew= |Ship troops= |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament= |Ship armour= |Ship aircraft= |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |
History
The Balder was constructed in 1978 as semi-submersible crane vessel by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Balder and sister vessel, Hermod were the world's first semi-submersible crane vessels.{{cite web| publisher=Heerema Marine Contractors| title=History| url=http://hmc.heerema.com/About/History/tabid/244/language/en-US/Default.aspx| accessdate=26 March 2011| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724134801/http://hmc.heerema.com/About/History/tabid/244/language/en-US/Default.aspx| archivedate=24 July 2011}} In the early 1980s these vessels set several lift records while operating in the North Sea. Conversion to a DCV was carried out in 2001 by Verolme Botlek BV in the Netherlands.{{cite web|publisher=Keppel Verolme |title=Conversion Projects: Balder |url=http://www.keppelverolme.com/increasingly-complex-conversion-projects/ |accessdate=26 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713144144/http://www.keppelverolme.com/increasingly-complex-conversion-projects/ |archivedate=13 July 2011 }}
Design
The hull consists of two floaters with three columns each. The transit draught of 12 meters is normally ballasted down to 25 meters for lifting operations, with the floaters (with a draught of 12 meters) well-submerged, reducing the effect of waves and swell.
It is powered by seven 3,500 kW azimuth thrusters and two propellers. There is accommodation for 350 persons. Lightship weight is 49,631 tonnes.
In the 2001 conversion, it was fitted with seven thrusters and a J-lay system.{{cite web| url=http://www.onepetro.org/mslib/servlet/onepetropreview?id=OTC-15367-MS&soc=OTC| title=Installation of the Horn Mountain Spar Using the Enhanced DCV Balder| publisher=OnePetro| date=May 2003| accessdate=26 March 2011}} The 98 m J-Lay tower, designed and constructed by Huisman Itrec, is capable of laying pipe in water depths to {{convert|3000|m|abbr=on|-3}}. Balder was also equipped with class III dynamic positioning system and a mooring line deployment winch. The winch is the largest in the world, with a diameter of 10.5 meters and a safe working load (SWL) of 275 t.{{cite web|url=http://www.heerema.com/content/hmc/equipment/balder/mldw.htm |title=Heerema Mooring Line Deployment Winch |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040820044342/http://www.heerema.com/content/hmc/equipment/balder/mldw.htm |archivedate=August 20, 2004 }}
=Cranes=
The Balder has two cranes (3600 t, 2700 t). Originally the starboard-side crane was rated at 3000 short ton and the port-side at 2000 short ton.{{cite web |url=http://www.gustomsc.com/attachments/137_GustoMSC%2000.110%20-%20Balder,%203,000-t%20and%204,000-t.pdf |title=DCV Balder |publisher=GustoMSC |accessdate=26 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005031250/http://www.gustomsc.com/attachments/137_GustoMSC%2000.110%20-%20Balder%2C%203%2C000-t%20and%204%2C000-t.pdf |archivedate=5 October 2011 }} In 1984, the lifting capacities were upgraded to 4000 and 3000 short tons respectively in a fixed mode (and 3300 & 2200 in revolving mode). To accommodate the J-Lay tower, the port crane jib was converted to a fly jib in 2001.
Remarkable projects
- In 1978 Occidental’s Piper Alpha was the first platform installation with a Semi Submersible Crane Vessel. It was a British platform that blew out and burned to the water, killing 167 of its crew.{{cite web| url=http://www.oilrigdisasters.co.uk| title=Piper Alpha| publisher=Oil Rig Disasters| accessdate=26 March 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626212641/http://oilrigdisasters.co.uk/| archive-date=26 June 2017| url-status=usurped}}
- In 2005 the world's largest semi-submersible platform, BP's Thunder Horse, was installed.{{cite web|url=http://www.oilonline.com/news/features/oe/20050426.Making_d.17784.asp |title=OilOnline, Making deepwater history |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315184338/http://www.oilonline.com/news/features/oe/20050426.Making_d.17784.asp |archivedate=March 15, 2006 }} Later in the year, Balder assisted in righting Thunder Horse, found listing dramatically after Hurricane Dennis.{{cite web|url=http://www.oilonline.com/news/features/oe/20050801.Back_fro.18695.asp |title=Oil Online, Back from the Brink |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519001448/http://www.oilonline.com/news/features/oe/20050801.Back_fro.18695.asp |archivedate=May 19, 2006 }}
- In 2006 it installed BP’s Mardi Gras Atlantis gas export pipeline (0.6 m / 24 in diameter) in a record breaking water depth of 2220 meters (7217 feet).{{cite web
|url=http://www.heerema.com/content/hmc/inthenews/editorials/items/200602worldpipelines.pdf
|title=World Pipelines, Installing on Time
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510235640/http://www.heerema.com/content/hmc/inthenews/editorials/items/200602worldpipelines.pdf
|archivedate=May 10, 2006
}}
- in 2007 it moored the Independence Hub Facility in a record breaking water depth of 2438 m (8000 ft), with a world record for the deepest flow line installation of 2743 m (9000 ft).{{cite web |url=http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=43978 | title = Rigzone, Heerema Sets World Records in Independence Hub Installation Tuesday, April 17, 2007}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons category|IMO 7710226}}
- [http://hmc.heerema.com/ Heerema Marine Contractors' site]
- [http://hmcfleet.com/balder Actual position, status, weather and other updates from SSCV Balder]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balder, Dcv}}
Category:Ships built by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding