A small vessel has been used by the Harland & Wolff Group as part of a contract at their Belfast shipyard to provide a mid-life upgrade of a 150,000dwt Floating Production and Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The giant Canadian flagged MV SeaRose FPSO which operates in subwell oil fields off Newfoundland and Labrador, Afloat reported of its recent arrival to Belfast. On the other side of the North Channel, the Group’s Arnish yard on the Isle of Lewis & Harris in the Outer Hebrides off Scotland, is where specialist parts were manufactured as part of the refit upgrade of the 271m long FPSO vessel .
On completion of manufacturing the test pieces, they were loaded on board the 33m MV Carly, a workboat, support and landing craft which Afloat has identified is operated by Ferguson Transport & Shipping based in Annat, Corpach, Fort William in west Scotland.
The project cargo was delivered to a very tight deadline, with the team at H&W Arnish, working 24 hours a day to complete buoy seal test plates to schedule. Such an operation demonstrates H&W’s multi-site business model which allowed the shipyard Group to drive capacity and capability to serve client requirements where it is needed.
Currently the yard at Arnish employs a 150-strong workforce and has an apprenticeship programme in place. At the 38 hectare development site located at Arnish Point, is a 21,000m² area with purpose built fabrication and assembly halls and administration offices.
With its deep water quay, Arnish offers unrestricted access to the Atlantic and North Channel, that enables the facility for the shipment of materials and completed fabricated components.
