DCV Balder

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The DCV Balder is a Deepwater Construction Vessel operated by Heerema. It was constructed in 1978 by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. as Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel. In 2001 it was converted to DCV by Verolme Botlek BV.

The Balder has two cranes (1 * 3600 mT, 1 * 2700 mT). Since the conversion it is equipped with a class III Dynamic Positioning system for position keeping. It is fitted with seven 3,500 kW azimuthing thrusters and two propellors.

Image:MLDW.JPG

During the conversion a Mooring Line Deployment winch was installed, the largest in the world<ref>Heerema Mooring Line Deployment Winch.</ref>, with a diameter of 10.5 meter and a SWL (Safe Working Load) of 275 mT. In 2002 a J-Lay tower was installed. It is capable of laying pipe in waterdepths to 3000 meter.

The hull consists of two floaters with three columns each. Transit draught is ± 12 meter. For lifting operations it will normally be ballasted down to 25 meters. This way the floaters (with a draught of 12 meters) are well submerged to reduce the effect of waves and swell.

It is able to accommodate 350 persons.

1 Particulars
2 Remarkable projects
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Particulars

Length overall	154 meter
Breadth	86 meter
Breadth (incl. J-Lay)	118 meter
Max. draught	27 meter
Depth to workdeck	42 meter
Height J-Lay tower to workdeck	101 meter
Lightship weight	49,631 mT
Max. displacement	104,355 mT

[edit] Remarkable projects

Image:Balder Thunderhorse.JPG

In 1978 Occidental’s Piper Alpha was the first platform installation with a Semi Submersible Crane Vessel.
In 2004 it installed BP's Holstein, the worlds largest spar in the Gulf of Mexico.
In 2005 the worlds largest Semi-submersible Platform, BP's Thunder Horse, was installed<ref>OilOnline, Making deepwater history.</ref>.
In 2005 it assisted in the uprighting of BP’s Thunder Horse, which was found listing dramatically after hurricane Dennis<ref>Oil Online, Back from the Brink.</ref>.
In 2006 it installed BP’s Mardi Gras Atlantis gas export pipeline (24” diameter) in a record breaking water depth of 2,220 meter<ref>World Pipelines, Installing on Time.</ref>.