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Six of these vessels will be built at IHC Merwede in The Netherlands for delivery in 2015 and 2016. They are 550-tonne laying tension capacity pipelayers, which will all be supplied with Kongsberg’s dynamic positioning and thruster control systems.

Three of them will engage in transportation and installation of flexible flowlines and umbilicals for Subsea 7 in water depths up to 3,000m. The other three will be operated by Seabras Sapura, a partnership between SapuraKencana and Seadrill.

Kongsberg Maritime will also supply technology packages to four pipelaying support vessels (PLSV) operated under a Technip/DOF joint venture agreement.

Two PLSVs, being built by Vard Promar in Brazil, will have a 300-tonne laying tension capacity whilst two to be built by Vard Tulcea in Romania and outfitted at Vard Søviknes in Norway will have 650-tonne laying tension capacity.

The vessels, whose delivery is scheduled for 2016-2017, enable the installation of large diameter flexible pipes in ultra-deepwater environments, such as the Brazilian pre-salt.

"These contracts have been secured due to a long relationship with shipowners and yards, as well as Kongsberg Maritime’s substantial expertise and experience in developing and delivering cutting-edge DP and automation technology for pipelaying vessels,” said Halvard Foss, regional manager Sales & Marketing, Kongsberg Maritime. “We are a leading supplier of technology to pipelaying vessels built and operated worldwide, which is reflected in our selection for these prestigious contracts for Petrobras vessels.”

In late January, Kongsberg reported that it had won a contract worth more than NOK 230 million ($37m) from shipbuilder Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) to supply all electrical, telecom and integrated control systems for a deep-water derrick lay vessel which it is to build for Petrofac UK.

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