A Towering Achievement for IHC EB
Last week, IHC Engineering Business celebrated the fact that the J-lay tower after three years of hard work, skill and dedocation was succesfully raised to ist vertical operating position from the deck of the Saipem FDS2 vessel. “The pipelay tower is designed and built for energy giant Saipem and now stands 65m tall above the deck of the newbuild vessel in Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea”, explains IHC EB’s Managing Director, Toby Bailey.
According to the managing director the tower is by far the largest system that IHC EB has ever delivered and the most versatile pipelay tower in the world. The tower stands taller than the Tyne Bridge and is more than ten times the weight of the Angel of the North.” Following the design and build of the system in the North East, it was shipped to Korea during the summer and, since its arrival, a dedicated team from IHC EB has been working closely with Saipem and Samsung to prepare and install the tower onto the new Field Development Ship.
“We are very proud of this achievement. The tower installation has gone very smoothly and to see it standing tall on the stern of the FDS2 vessel is testament to the efforts of IHC EB and it suppliers over the past three years,” says Toby Bailey. “Pioneering design and engineering is still thriving in the North East of England.” IHC EB will continue to commission the tower into the New Year, after which the vessel and pipelay system will complete sea trials, before commencing commercial operations. In parallel IHC EB is designing and constructing a second pipelay tower for another leading offshore contractor for delivery next year. Building on this success in design innovation and engineering delivery, the company expects to go from strength to strength supporting the offshore industry.