‘Major’ refit around the corner for 2003-built vessel with work-class ROV among new enhancements

AGR, a subsidiary of Oslo-listed global energy, marine, and engineering consultancy ABL Group, has disclosed a list of improvement features that will be added to a ship, originally built as a platform supply vessel (PSV), which is said to be a solution to a major energy industry bottleneck – the scarcity of special-purpose ships, as refurbishment work allows it to sign up for comprehensive survey management, well abandonment, and decommissioning projects.

Owned and operated by Eagle Offshore Bømlo, the 2003-built M/V Ross Eagle, which was constructed at Brattvaag Shipyard as a PSV, was set to be upgraded with a special purpose-designed 100 mT heavy lift A-frame over a central moonpool and active heave-compensated winch in 2024 to handle different tasks, getting ready to enable the provision of end-to-end solutions: from initial desktop surveys to executing complex geophysical and geotechnical offshore operations.

While Enviros was tasked with supplying the environmental, geophysics survey, and seabed geotechnical equipment, the wellhead abandonment straddle packer (WASP) and Terminator, a vessel-deployed subsea wellhead removal system, for plug and abandon operations and geotechnical coring technology were on Baker Hughes‘ list.

AGR has confirmed that M/V Ross Eagle recently wrapped up two work scopes safely and within budget for undisclosed exploration and production (E&P) companies on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). As a result, the ship will be available for assignments until September 23, after which it is scheduled to head to the yard for what the firm has described as “major” upgrades.

The new upgrade bundle will encompass the installation of an A-frame over the moonpool combined with an active heave-compensated winch, a deployment of a work-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) (WROV), and additional equipment to enhance capabilities.

Once the upgrades have been completed, M/V Ross Eagle is expected to be ready for a range of inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) scopes, including wellhead cutting and geotechnical coring technology, to address the shortage of specialized vessels for integrated site surveys and geotechnical management.

Given the uptick in demand for seabed mapping and geotechnical data collection, driven by the rapid expansion of offshore wind projects, AGR believes that this surge has often resulted in delays and uncertainty due to the limited availability of specialized vessels.

Jarle Vespestad, VP of Marine & Survey Management at Ross Offshore, part of AGR, commented: “With M/V Ross Eagle in our fleet, we can offer end-to-end solutions, from initial desktop studies to the execution of complex geophysical and geotechnical offshore operations. The vessel strengthens our market position, providing clients with unmatched expertise, efficiency, and predictability.”

With a moonpool under a 100 mT A-frame and two sets of winch systems, the Norwegian player claims that M/V Ross Eagle is equipped to provide “robust technical solutions” for both survey and plug and abandonment operations, as it is “well-rigged for a wide range of missions.”

In addition, the firm underlines that the vessel can be tailored with an array of scope-specific operational equipment in partnership with Enviros and Baker Hughes. The accommodation module with 38 beds is perceived to allow for crew-intensive operations over extended periods.

“Since January, we have supported a variety of clients across a wide range of projects. Eagle Offshore and Ross Eagle have demonstrated the capability to execute safe and effective operations. We are looking forward to more exciting projects ahead,” emphasized Vespestad.

While highlighting that the revamped M/V Ross Eagle will be versatile and ready for various project types, spanning from supply duties to offshore wind, AGR said: “We’re excited about the future and look forward to continuing to provide lean, cost-efficient solutions for our valued clients.”