Walk-to-work vessel for year-round operation
Impression of the new building (Source: Niestern Sander)
Dutch yard Royal Niestern Sander will construct an offshore support vessel for crew transfer from Russia. Customer for the shallow-draught ice-breaking walk-to-work vessel is a joint-venture between Mercury Sakhalin and Pola.
After delivery in December 2021, Mercury Sakhalin will operate the vessel off the Russian Far Eastern island of Sakhalin for the oil and gas industry. Acting as an intermediary between both parties, Dutch company Wagenborg Offshore contributed to the project with operational experience of sailing in shallow waters with ice-breaking vessels in the Caspian Sea and walk to work transport in the North Sea.
The vessel is specially designed for year-round operations in the difficult conditions on the east coast of Sakhalin in temperatures ranging from -30 degrees centigrade to +35 degrees centigrade. By combining a shallow draught of 3.15m, a transit draught of 4.0m in open waters, the vessel can be deployed year-round. The vessel will perform crew transfer services for up to 40 persons from the shallow Nabil Port to offshore platforms near Sakhalin. In addition, the vessel can be deployed for oil spill response services.
