Posted on March 31, 2025
AF Offshore Decom, Deep C partner for offshore dredging
Deep C and AF Offshore Decom are collaborating on an unnamed subsea intervention project, according to a March 19 press release.
This involves dredging several thousand cubic meters of rock dump.
Deep C will deploy its tracked subsea construction vehicle, equipped with a 20-inch (500-mm) dredging system and integrated high-volume jetting system.
Petrobras extends pipelay vessel contract
Offshore Brazil, Petrobras has extended the long-term contract for the pipelay support vessel Skandi Buzios, owned and operated by the DOF/TechnipFMC joint venture, until September 2026, according to a March 20 news release.
Skandi Buzios
DOF secures SURF work, due to start later this year
According to another March 20 news release, DOF Group also has secured a large SURF project in the Atlantic region for an undisclosed energy company. The work scope includes project management, engineering, logistical and execution services for installing flexible flowlines, risers, cables and associated subsea structures. DOF will also install a floating production unit on behalf of the client. Offshore work, due to start later this year, will involve six DOF vessels.
Subsea7, Solstad ink subsea vessel contract
Subsea7 has contracted Solstad Offshore’s subsea construction/IMR vessel Normand Subsea for a two-year firm program, starting Jan. 1, 2026, with three year-long extension options, according to a March 19 news release.
The vessel has been on contract to Subsea7 since 2009.
Normand Subsea
The Switch to equip five VARD offshore vessels
Power electronics specialist The Switch will provide its DC-Hub technology to Vard Electro for five diesel-electric hybrid VARD 3 32 walk-to-work vessels. In total, Finland-based The Switch will supply 15 DC-hubs, according to a March 17 news release.
The new vessels will deliver maintenance, supply and operational services to offshore oil and gas platforms and will each be equipped with a diesel-electric and battery-hybrid propulsion system. The DC-Hubs will be designed to ensure a stable DC power supply in all sailing conditions and to accommodate integration of future energy sources.
Their main features are an electronic DC breaker, said to eliminate faults inside an inverter module, maintaining uninterrupted operation for the rest of the system; a DNV-approved electronic bus link, a DP3-rated device that isolates faults between DC-Hubs; and an electronic current limiter, providing protection against short-circuit faults toward the battery on the DC-Hub end of the cable.
Ampelmann gets contract extension from Solstad
E-type motion compensated gangway
Solstad Offshore has extended Ampelmann’s contract to provide a motion-compensated gangway for the construction support vessel Normand Valiant for operations offshore Brazil, according to a March 17 news release.
The A-type gangway was fitted onto the vessel in 2022 and will continue to support work for Petrobras until August 2026.
A larger Ampelmann E-type motion compensated gangway has also been in service since last June on Solstad’s Normand Fortress.
The gangways’ hexapod allows them to compensate for motions in six degrees of freedom and to operate in rough seas with low gangway telescoping speeds.
Elsewhere offshore Brazil, a second A-type and a fully electric lightweight S-type are also currently in service on long-term projects.
