February 6 - KBR has been awarded a contract for the basic design development for Heerema Offshore Services' large new submersible crane vessel (NSCV) through its subsidiary GVA.

GVA completed seven months of feasibility and conceptual studies on the NSCV in 2013, and the basic design of the new vessel is expected to cover the major part of 2014.

Designed for worldwide operations, the self-propelled vessel will meet Heerema's priority requirements for maximised transit speed, and will be approximately 200 m long by 97 m wide, with a combined lifting capacity of 20,000 tonnes.

The NSCV hull configuration will also feature a large deck box on an eight column structure mounted on two pontoons.

"Heerema's selection of GVA as a partner in the development of this new heavy lift vessel demonstrated confidence in GVA's capability, experience and skills for such a challenging and strategically important project," said Roy Oelking, president of KBR Hydrocarbons Group.

GVA, a part of KBR's Hydrocarbon Business Group, is a marine and offshore engineering and technology company, specialising in the design and construction of floating offshore units.

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