Punj Lloyd acquires India’s first pipelay barge for offshore construction
12 Mar 2010
New Delhi: Delhi-based engineering and construction group Punj Lloyd today said that with the launch of its new pipelay barge Kuber, capable of laying pipelines in water depths of 150 m. it had become the first and only owner of an Indian flag pipelay vessel.
The group said that the vessel was fully owned and operated by it.
Outfitted with equipment from renowned international suppliers, Kuber's air conditioned four-storeyed accommodation block can house 290 personnel. It has the capability to work at sea for extended periods.
Kuber is provided with navigation systems, including DGPS, wind speed and direction indicators, underwater camera, draught sensor & SAT diving systems. With a large free deck with a load capacity of 12.5T/m2, Kuber has a unique 'Stinger' with inbuilt heave compensation, indigenously designed by Punj Lloyd's naval architect.
''Kuber will add a new dimension to Punj Lloyd's offshore business," said P K Gupta, director, Punj Lloyd Group.
Gupta said, "It is a vessel capable of pipelaying in the western offshore oilfields of India including the famous Mumbai High oilfields of ONGC. Induction of Kuber would increase the 'Indian' content for offshore pipelay work, which is so far dependent on foreign pipelay vessels and their workforce. The deployment of an Indian flag vessel would provide price competitiveness to our clients.''
Besides India, Kuber can also operate in the oil and gas fields of Asia Pacific and Middle East, as the vesel can be mobilised to meet requirements for offshore pipeline projects elsewhere.
Apart from pipe handling, mooring equipment, pipe tensioning and recovery systems, Kuber has a helipad and a 'Huisman' pedestal crane. Kuber can also be leased to other offshore contractors, both domestic and international, in view of the severe crunch for offshore pipelay equipment.
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