Geotechnical engineering and drilling company Geoquip Marine has completed a conversion and upgrade to its most recently acquired multipurpose geotechnical vessel, Geoquip Speer, making it suitable for international DP operations
As part of the refit, Geoquip Speer has had its moonpool opened up, enabling it to be fitted with a fully heave-compensated offshore geotechnical drilling rig and deepwater seabed cone penetration testing (CPT) unit, GMC201.
The GMC201 CPT is a 20-tonne seabed unit designed to conduct an array of in-situ tests in either shallow or deep water. It is designed with class-leading capabilities in terms of speed of deployment, providing the fastest possible turnarounds and reduced operating costs.
The seabed system is deployed through the vessel’s moonpool using a dedicated launch and recovery system.
Geoquip Speer was the second DP2 support vessel to be added to Geoquip Marine’s fleet in 2019 following Geoquip Saentis. Formerly Cristal, Geoquip Speer was built in 2010.
With the refit completed, Geoquip Speer joins four other specialised geotechnical vessels on Geoquip Marine’s permanent fleet and has already been contracted for its first assignment, undertaking seabed CPT work for the largest offshore windfarm development in the US.
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