The Semac laybarge yesterday became the third vessel chartered by Statoil to help lay its Europipe II gas trunkline in the North Sea.
Owned by European Marine Contractors, this unit will start work in mid-January on the southernmost section of the line up to the tie-in point off the German coast.
EMC also owns the Castoro Sei laybarge, which is currently installing Europipe II southwards from the Danish continental shelf.
This vessel will now be redeployed to the other end of the Danish section and lay northwards until it encounters the third laybarge - Solitaire - moving south from Norway. They are due to meet next spring.
"Plans call for laying to be completed in May," says Europipe II project director Roar Jensen.