Saipem Contracts Four Platform Supply Vessels for Equinor’s Irpa Development
Saipem has recently secured the services of four platform supply vessels to provide pipehaul support for Equinor’s Irpa development offshore Norway. The vessels have been engaged for a firm period of 60 days each, with options for further extensions.
Two of the contracts have been awarded to OSV owner Tidewater for their vessels, the 2009-built Troms Castor and the 2012-built Troms Sirius. Additionally, Singapore-based OSV owner Britoil and Norway’s Hoyland Offshore have also secured fixtures for their vessels, the 2017-built BOS Patience and the 2002-built Sar Mariner, respectively.
The Irpa gas field, previously known as Asterix, is situated 340 km west of Bodø in the Vøring Basin in the Norwegian Sea, and approximately 80 km west of the Aasta Hansteen field.
Having won the contract for the field’s pipeline project in 2023, Saipem has designated its flagship vessel, Castorone, for the work. The quartet of PSVs is scheduled to provide support to Saipem’s 325-m-long pipelayer starting from mid-April.