(WO) — Norway-based TMC Compressors has secured a contract from Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd. to supply marine compressed air systems for two subsea rock installation vessels under construction for Dutch marine contractor Van Oord.
Under the agreement, TMC will provide a complete marine compressed air package for each vessel, including instrument air compressors and air dryers. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The vessels are being designed for subsea rock installation work, a key offshore activity used to protect and stabilize pipelines, subsea infrastructure and offshore energy assets. Van Oord has been active in the subsea rock installation market since the 1970s and is considered a leader in seabed intervention services.
Each vessel will feature a loading capacity of 35,000 tonnes, the ability to handle large rock sizes and a DP-2 dynamic positioning system for maintaining precise positioning during offshore operations.
The vessels are also being designed with a focus on efficiency and emissions reduction, incorporating multi-fuel engines capable of operating on biofuels and methanol, a DC-grid system with large battery storage capacity, and an energy-efficient hull and rock-handling system.
According to TMC, the compressed air systems are designed for reliability and onboard maintenance, allowing vessel crews to service equipment while operating at sea.
“These vessels can play an important role in facilitating the energy transition through enabling, amongst other things, offshore wind projects,” said Hans-Petter Tanum, TMC’s director of sales and business development.
Van Oord operates a fleet of 61 vessels worldwide, including three existing subsea rock installation vessels. The newbuilds are expected to support long-distance offshore projects while reducing emissions and operating costs through improved efficiency and reduced transit requirements.
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