The Global 1200 is the first of two next-generation deepwater derrick pipelay vessels owned by Global Industries, which is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Technip. The vessel was designed by Ulstein Sea of Solutions (SoS) of the Netherlands and built by Singapore-based Keppel Singmarine. The basic design engineering was provided by Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam.
The naming ceremony of the vessel was held in September 2010 in Singapore. The vessel was delivered in the fourth quarter of 2010. The Global 1200 was deployed as the primary construction vessel on Dubai Petroleum Establishment’s Al Jalilah Platform and Pipelines EPC project, which was completed in June 2011.
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The Global 1200’s sister ship, the Global 1201, is a combination derrick / pipelay vessel delivered in June 2011.
Global 1200 design
The Global 1200 has been designed for use in shallow as well as deep water. The overall length of the vessel is 162.3m and width is 32.2m. The freeboard deck depth is 9.1m, and the minimum and maximum operating drafts are 5.8m and 6.6m respectively.
The design took around three years as it was performed in several stages. Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam undertook basic arrangement works, designing and engineering of the hull, marine systems engineering, and deckhouses and helideck steel structures.
The designers studied the hull wave bending moments extensively so that the vessel could be designed in such a way that it would be able to perform lifting operations and pipelay works simultaneously.
To incorporate this feature, the maximum expected wave bending moment during pipelay conditions were generated by using AQWA software application. In addition, the structural hull design was optimised through a detailed ANSYS model.
Accommodation
The vessel provides comfort class living quarters for 264 people and also features two hospital beds. Facilities on board include a gymnasium, an internet cafe and a recreation room fitted with a movie theatre and satellite TV.
Propulsion
The propulsion of the vessel is achieved by its two 4,500kW main azimuth thrusters, which provide most of the stern surge sway and yaw power. The first thruster is located in the propulsion room aft pressure switch and the second one in the propulsion room aft switchboard.
The vessel also has five 2,400kW retractable thrusters and an 880kW tunnel thruster. There are three 3,760kW and three 4,320kW generators that provide electric power. The first three diesel generators are powered by nine cylinder, four stroke, 720rpm, 4.3MW MAN 9L32/40 engines, and the other three are powered by eight cylinder, four stroke, 720rpm, 3.8mW MAN 8L32/40 engines.
The lubricating oil systems of each thruster and engine comprised a clean oil distribution system and dirty lube oil system. This helps in easing oil change and in pollution control. The systems are generally isolated during dynamic positioning system.
Equipment
The Global 1200 is equipped with a pipelay system that can handle up to 60in concrete-coated pipe.
The vessel is fitted with a 1,200mt capacity crane, suitable for conventional platform installations. The vessel’s 400t, deep water lowering system allows it to operate in water depths up to 3,000m.
Enhanced DP2 system allows the vessel to handle large diameter pipelay where high bottom tensions are required.
The vessel can deploy an eight point conventional mooring system for very shallow water, 8m to 23m.
The vessel has separate power management system (PMS) and vessel management system (VMS). The PLC (programmable logic controller) based vessel and power management system has been supplied by Converteam.
VMS monitors major systems such as power generation, thrusters, tank levels and support systems. PMS monitors and controls power generation system. It also provides load dependant start / stop, start inhibits, load reduction and limited blackout restart.
Communication systems
The communication system of the vessel includes satellite communication tower with dual VSAT high speed internet in all customer accommodations, internet cafe, telephone, VHF radio, HDTV, wireless communications and fax.
