Rolls-Royce designs selected for 53 Offshore Service Vessels

UT-Designs and packages of equipment from Rolls-Royce have been selected for 53 offshore service vessels over the past year. This represents 70 per cent of the orders placed during the year and is the largest batch of orders in this sector the company has won since the mid-1970s.

Tuesday, 9 January 2001

Twelve of these vessels were ordered just before the end of 2000 and will be worth £40 million to Rolls-Royce. This will bring the total value of these contracts to Rolls-Royce to £170 million.

Dr Saul Lanyado, President - Marine, for Rolls-Royce, said: "The increase in demand has come rapidly. After a quiet period in late 1999 and early 2000 caused by uncertainties in the offshore oil and gas industry, owners have started investing for the future. Since the summer of 2000 UT-Designs for 43 offshore service vessels have been chosen by shipowners in many countries including the USA."

The vessels will be built in shipyards in Brazil, China, Denmark, Japan, Korea, Norway and Singapore. Delivery dates of the vessels extend well into 2003.

Sixteen of the vessels are powerful anchor handlers, with the UT722 variants in strong demand. The market favourite platform supply vessel is the UT755 in standard or long versions, with 19 on order, and the long established UT745 retains its popularity, with diesel electric versions also available. Several of the contracts are for new designs, including the UT710, UT728 and UT738 AHTS.

The demand for vessels to lay and maintain fibre optic cables is also strong, and TyCom has confirmed orders for six of the new and innovative UT757 design, with full marine equipment packages, to be built in Singapore.