Aker Solutions has been awarded two contracts, one with Bluewater Industries Inc. and one with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for the design and supply of on-vessel mooring systems. The total contract value for Aker Solutions is approximately NOK 150 million.

The Bluewater contract consists of eccentric fairlead chain stoppers and roller RamWinches for a deep draft production unit owned by ATP Oil & Gas Corporation. The hull for the deep draft production unit of Moss Maritime's Octabuoy design will be built by Cosco Shipyard in China. After completion it will be located on the Cheviot field at the British Sector of the North Sea.

The DSME contract consists of eccentric fairlead chain stoppers for the Pazflor FPSO destined to operate in Angolan waters. The FPSO is being built by DSME in South Korea. The Pazflor field, operated by Total E&P Angola, is located approximately 200 kilometres off the coast of Angola and has a water depth of nearly 800 meters.

Aker Solutions, through its subsidiary Aker Pusnes AS, has developed the eccentric fairlead chain stoppers design which is an innovative on-vessel mooring solution with several advantages. With the eccentric fairlead chain stoppers the mooring load is secured at keel level thereby increasing the fatigue life of the chain. The design eliminates the need for reinforcements at the deck level thereby decreasing the overall weight.

Leif Haukom, President of Aker Pusnes AS, commented: "We are proud to be selected as maker of the on-vessel mooring equipment for the first production unit of Octabuoy design to be built. This contract underlines Aker Solutions' strong position for mooring systems to installations in harsh environments, such as the North Sea."

The equipment will be manufactured in Europe and South-Korea and the delivery will take place during 2009.

Below is a photo of Aker Solutions RamWinches onboard Independent Hub located in the Gulf of Mexico.

Tags: Aker Solutions, Bluewater Industries Inc., Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering