World’s largest crane vessel coming to Norway for installation job on giant new FPSO

Heerema Marine Contractors’ Sleipnir, the world’s largest semi-submersible crane vessel (SSCV), is en route to a yard in Norway to perform an installation job on an FPSO, which will be working on a field offshore Norway for over 30 years.

After a four-day stay at a Rotterdam port, Sleipnir headed to Stord, Norway on 30 July where it will work for its client Aker Solutions on an installation of remaining structures for the Equinor-operated Johan Castberg FPSO. Aker Solutions is in charge of the subsea production system and the topside engineering on the FPSO under a contract from late 2017.

Previously, Heerema also worked on an installation of Castberg FPSO’s lower turret. This was performed after the FPSO vessel was delivered by Sembcorp Marine and arrived from Singapore to Norway on board the world’s largest transport vessel, Boka Vanguard. Following the float-off operation, the FPSO was towed to Stord where Sleipnir installed the lower part of the turret, delivered by SBM Offshore and Dubai Drydocks.

In late June, the process modules – constructed in Egersund, Stord, Verdal, Sandnessjøen, and Hammerfest – were put in place. The lifting campaign took place quayside at Stord, starring Scaldis’ lifting vessel, Gulliver. After that, everything is being connected and completed.

Now, Sleipnir and Castberg will meet again at the quayside in Stord where Sleipnir is expected to install the manifold and gantry module. Heerema claims that the giant vessel’s cranes can each lift an enormous 10,000 metric tons, which is almost the same weight as the Eiffel Tower.

Sleipnir is expected to arrive in Stord on Wednesday afternoon, 24 August 2022, according to the latest AIS data. It is currently in the UK North Sea.

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The FPSO Johan Castberg is roughly the size of three football fields, as it is 313 metres long and 55 metres wide. Less than two weeks ago, the FPSO made it to the headlines following a fire incident on board. The fire was stopped shortly after it was detected and there were no reports of injuries. Aker Solutions said that the incident would not influence the progress of the project.

Following final completion, the vessel is set to be deployed at the Johan Castberg field, which lies in the Barents Sea, 240 kilometres north-west of Hammerfest. The field, which is expected to be producing for more than 30 years, has proven volumes estimated between 400 and 650 million barrels of oil.

As previously reported, the project start-up is no longer expected in the fourth quarter of 2022 due to delays and cost overruns. It is now anticipated to come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2024.