Cargo Business Techwire

Friday, August 8, 2014

Biggest vessel in the world to be finished at Port of Rotterdam

The Pieter Schelte, the biggest vessel in the world, will be completed in the port of Rotterdam, according to a deal signed by owner and designer Allseas and the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

According to a Port of Rotterdam statement, the Pieter Schelt — 1,253 feet long and 406 feet wide — will install and remove the topsides and jackets of large offshore oil and gas platforms in a single lift. The vessel is expected to arrive in Rotterdam at the end of 2014.

There is a slot at the bow of the vessel where topsides are lifted, according to the statement. The Pieter Schelte is also equipped for laying large pipelines, said the port, and her capacity will make her the largest pipelay vessel as well.

The vessel can lift topsides of offshore platforms weighing up to 48,000 tons and jackets up to 25,000 tons.

Final assembly of Pieter Schelte will take place in the Alexiahaven at the inner lake of Maasvlakte 2 port area. A special pit will be dredged there for the vessel, said the port of Rotterdam, and then the 65-meter-long beams of the topsides lift system will be installed there. The lifting beams are being built in Italy and will be transported by ship to the Netherlands.

"The construction of Pieter Schelte means a great boost for the maritime industry," said Allard Castelein, CEO of the port authority. "We're proud that Allseas is responsible for this innovation and pleased that the port of Rotterdam can make a contribution. It's in line with the port authority's endeavor to develop the port further as a center of the global maritime industry."

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