Bluewhale Offshore has secured a significant accommodation and heavy-lift contract for the semisubmersible crane vessel (SSCV) Blue Gretha with an EPC contractor for the Bonga North project offshore Nigeria. The $5 billion project, being developed by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), received its final investment decision last December.
The SSCV Blue Gretha will provide accommodation and heavy-lift services for the deepwater oil and gas field located off the coast of Nigeria, which will be developed as a subsea tieback to an existing FPSO unit. The service contract includes a firm period of 15 months plus optional periods.
The vessel, formerly known as Huadian Zhongji 01, is currently being refurbished and prepared at the CIMC Raffles Shipyard in Yantai, China. Measuring 81 meters in length and equipped with two 1,800-metric-tonne Huisman cranes, the SSCV can accommodate 618 personnel on board.
Bluewhale Offshore emphasizes that the vessel offers a versatile solution for gangway connection and heavy-lift support, with proven performance across key energy sectors. The company highlights the vessel’s track record, including operations offshore Brazil for Petrobras from 2013 to 2017, and its involvement in China’s offshore wind sector, where it played a key role in multiple coastal wind farm projects.
The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with OOS Group, under which Bluewhale Offshore will hold a majority stake in OOS International. The combination aims to leverage Bluewhale’s project delivery and asset operations expertise with OOS Group’s ship management and crewing services. OOS International will be rebranded as BlueOOS.
Source: offshore-mag.com