Mini buying spree strengthens Marine Platforms’ subsea project support

To bolster its support of engineering, procurement, installation and construction (EPIC) and subsea umblicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) projects, Nigeria’s Marine Platforms Ltd has gone shopping, adding high-spec subsea assets during a mini buying spree.

In its most recent investment announced in July, the Nigerian owner acquired a 51% stake in 15-year-old pipelay and construction vessel Global 1200 from China’s DS Global. Ship broker Clarksons and law firm HFW supported the acquisition, which will be finalised before the end of this year.

Renamed African Huan Qiu 1200, the 2010-built vessel will be jointly marketed by the partners for global subsea projects. Marine Platforms will focus on projects in the Western Hemisphere, while DS Global will be responsible for the Asian market. Both parties will execute projects together in the Middle East.

African Huan Qiu 1200 is a DP-2-class pipelay and heavy-lift construction vessel equipped with a 1,200-tonne crane, 800-tonne abandonment and recovery system, S-Lay pipelay capabilities, and accommodation for 264.

This most recent deal follows Marine Platforms’ acquisition of dive support vessel (DSV) African Pioneer (ex CM Pioneer and Ultra Deep Matisse). Now flying the Nigerian flag, African Pioneer is purpose-built for deepwater intervention and subsea construction, equipped with a 400-tonne active heave-compensated crane, two work-class ROV systems launched via dedicated LARS, triple moon pools, and a 24-man, twin-bell saturation diving spread rated to 300 m. The DSV has a 1,400 m² deck and accommodation for up to 140.