In at the deep end

The contract brings the total number of Rolls-Royce UT Design offshore vessels under construction worldwide to 120. Around 650 of these ships have been built or ordered since the mid-1970s..

Rolls-Royce has won a £17m order from Island Offshore to design and equip a specialist well-intervention vessel that can drill in ultra-deep waters.

The latest order for Rolls-Royce follows the delivery to Island Offshore of the first well-intervention vessel, Island Wellserver, in March this year.

The new 130m-long UT 767CDL vessel offers single cabins for 97 crew members and is said to meet cruise ship standards for noise and vibration.

Jørn Heltne, Rolls-Royce vice-president ship technology – offshore, said: ‘Island Offshore’s decision to once again choose Rolls-Royce design and equipment in this highly specialised segment is a vote of confidence both in our products and our people.’

The vessel, to be delivered in 2011, will be built at Aker Yards, Langsten, Norway.

In addition to design, Rolls-Royce will also deliver four main engines, propulsion, deck machinery and automation systems.

The contract brings the total number of Rolls-Royce UT Design offshore vessels under construction worldwide to 120. Around 650 of these ships have been built or ordered since the mid-1970s.