Offshore Independents B.V., leading providers of EPC Project Management and Engineering services to the international oil and gas industry, announced that it has been awarded a project management contract by international dredging, marine and offshore contractor Van Oord of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Under the terms of the contract, Offshore Independents will provide installation engineering, procurement, operations and project management services to support Van Oord’s newly acquired shallow water pipelay (SWPL) barge.

New Van Oord SWPL Barge Set to Debut in 2012

Van Oord purchased the SWPL bargefor pipeline installation.The barge, which measures 120 meters long and 40 meters wide, has the capacity for installing 18 to 48-inch pipelines in water depths of 6 to 50 meters. In some cases, depending on the pipeline diameter, the depth capability can be extended to 100 meters. It is equipped with a 500-tonne crane and has accommodation for 300. Currently under construction in Nantong, China, it will be operational in late 2012.

The new barge will broaden and extend Van Oord’s services to the offshore industry. The purchase comprises part of Van Oord's comprehensive investment scheme for 2011-2015 of EUR 1 billion, and complements the planned expansion of its offshore activities and reinforcement of its position as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor. Together with its existing services for the construction of landfalls, installation of rock, trench dredging and backfill, and the installation of single point mooring (SPM) systems, the new barge will enable the company to offer an integrated package of offshore services to oil and gas companies as an EPC contractor.

Helping Van Oord Realize Exciting Growth Opportunities

Van Oord has contracted Offshore Independents to facilitate development of this new product line in order to derive the utmost benefit from it. Offshore Independents will provide training of personnel and guidance with marketing of the barge. After contracts for the barge are secured, Offshore Independents will provide Van Oord with engineering support, project management and organization of offshore operations.

Since the launch of Offshore Independents in January 2010, the company has been extremely successful in marketing its services around the world. It is, for instance, currently managing the construction of an 18-inch offshore pipeline in West Africa on behalf of a major offshore contractor, and is performing an emergency pipeline repair study for a deepwater project for a major oil company. Last year, it managed a five-month inspection, repair and maintenance project in the North Sea on behalf of a subsea construction contractor.

“We will be offering Van Oord the full range of services to allow them to derive maximum benefit from this exciting new investment,” said Dirk Rook, Commercial Director of Offshore Independents.

The recent contract award by Van Oord builds on this established success. “We are very pleased that Van Oord has selected Offshore Independents to support the strategic expansion of their offshore pipeline installation capability,” said Rook. “Since opening our doors, we have experienced significant growth despite difficult market conditions. The award of this contract confirms our position as a highly professional service organization," he added.

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