Normand Maximus vessel begins Saipem work

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has taken delivery of the offshore construction support vessel (CSV) Normand Maximus through its partially owned affiliate, Maximus Limited.

As previously reported by Offshore Energy Today, the vessel’s hull was built in Vard’s Romanian yard last year, with outfitting and christening completed in Norway.

Solstad said on Monday that the vessel was delivered to Maximus Limited last Friday, October 28. Maximus Limited is a 25/75 affiliate with AGC Maritime Yield Fund I LP from Vard Brattvaag.

Furthermore, the 180 meter-vessel, largest in Solstad’s fleet, began its 8-year contract with Saipem, the Italian oil and gas industry contractor.

Saipem said previously that the vessel would execute projects in the most challenging environments worldwide, with a particular focus on East and West Africa, Brazil, Australia, the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

Normand Maximus was developed in close collaboration between Solstad, Saipem and Vard. The vessel is equipped with a 900 ton active heave compensated offshore crane and a 550-ton top tension vertical lay-system, enabling the installation of large diameter flexible pipes in ultra-deepwater environments. The vessel also has a 4,000-ton under-deck carousel for storage of flexible pipes, cables, and umbilicals.