The OOS Walcheren is the 3rd vessel using the asymmetric brace-less semi-submersible design within the OOS family. The first is the OOS Gretha, currently operating in Brazil, and the 2nd is the OOS Serooskerke, which is under construction and due for delivery in Q3 2019.
A total of 28 sub blocks are being keel layed. The weight of each block range between 40mt to 210mt. The dry dock, where she is being keel layed, spans at 530m in length and 130m in breadth, which is one of the largest dry docks in China.
The OOS Walcheren has a total of 212 sub blocks which will be fully erected in the dry dock. After the erection is complete, the OOS Walcheren will boast an overall size of 138m in length and 81m in breadth. She will be staying in the dry dock for 8 months, where she will be carefully outfitted and assembled before undocking at the end of July 2019.
The keel lay is a significant milestone because it marks the beginning of forming the vessel. The progress of the construction will speed up rapidly after the keel laying, because of the exceptional crane facilities available at the dry dock. There are five 60mt lattice boom cranes and one 900mt gantry crane serving the dry dock.
The OOS Walcheren is a DP-3 classed semi-submersible heavy lift crane accommodation vessel. She has been designed, equipped and built to high standards such as UK-HSE compliance, ABS Enhanced-propulsion DP class 3 notation, Green passport and ABS Integrated Software Quality Management (ISQM) notation.
The OOS Walcheren is designed to perform topside installation, decommissioning, offshore accommodation, wind-mill installation as well as multi-purpose offshore support activities.
She can perform 4,400mt heavy lifts using the 2 Huisman offshore mast cranes that are installed on board. The vessel is also able to provide accommodation for 750 POB meeting ABS habitability requirements.