Belgium: DP2 Jack-up Vessel ‘Neptune’ Named at Port of Ostend

Amid great public attention, the new DP2 jack-up vessel ‘Neptune’ was named today at the port of Ostend by Mrs Isabel Casteleyn, partner of Federal State Secretary for Energy and the Environment Melchior Wathelet. This self-propelled jack-up vessel was built by IHC Merwede for GeoSea N.V., the offshore marine construction specialist of the Belgian DEME Group.

The contract for the detailed design, construction and delivery of this vessel was signed between GeoSea and IHC Merwede on 16. September 2010, the keel was laid on 25. March 2011 and the ship was launched on 23. September 2011. A short delivery time for this complex, advanced and unique vessel.

The 60 metre long and 38 metre wide ‘Neptune’ is a DP2 (dynamic positioning) jack-up vessel and is equipped with a 600-ton crane that is fully integrated into the hull. As such, the ‘Neptune’ will be perfect for the transport and installation of offshore wind turbines and any other heavy marine offshore structures.

The ‘Neptune’ also obtained a ‘Green Passport’, provided by ABS (American Bureau of Shipping).

The ‘Neptune’’s first assignment will take it to the Thornton Bank off the Belgian coast, where it will install 48 wind turbines for the second and third stages of the C-Power offshore wind farm. Subsequently, the ‘Neptune’ will be mobilised to the German waters of the North Sea for the construction of both the Trianel West Borkum II wind farm, 45 km north of the East Frisian Island Borkum, and the EnBW Baltic 2 wind farm, 32 km north of the island of Rügen.

GeoSea has already put its experiences with the construction of the first phase of the C-Power project to good use with the construction of large-scale offshore wind farms in the United Kingdom (wind farms Walney I and II and Ormonde) and Germany (Alpha Ventus, Baltic II, Borkum West) and in preparatory geotechnical investigations at many locations off the coast of England, Germany, The Netherlands etc.

The competitiveness of GeoSea thus relies on its ability to provide innovative techniques and high operational reliability on the basis of high-tech equipment.

The use of the ‘Neptune’ and the growth of GeoSea will provide an additional 100 jobs. The DEME Group, to which GeoSea belongs, will be recruiting 500 new employees in the coming year.

GeoSea aims to further strengthen its position in the leading group of companies that specialise in developing renewable energy and building wind farms at sea. The company also carries out activities such as offshore geotechnical investigations, drilling large diameter piles for building structures such as jetties, and high-tech horizontal drilling as was successfully executed under the wreck of the sunken car carrier Tricolor.

The new jack-up vessel has been given the name ‘Neptune’ as this god of the seas represents the universal ocean of oneness with all beings. Neptune is strong, unyielding, indomitable, idealistic and imaginative. The planet Neptune, moreover, is regarded as a planet of inspiration, dreams and creativity. All these characteristics suit the purposes and values of GeoSea perfectly.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, March 07, 2012; Image: deme