37 MAY 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® www.starironworks.com 257 Caroline Street Punxsutawney, PA 15767 800-927-0560 • 814-427-2555 Fax: 814-427-5164 Serving the Construction Industry Norway Celebrates New Geotechnical Vessel Adapted from Information by Baird Maritime Norway-based multinational engineering consultants, the Multiconsult Group, has taken delivery of a new catamaran drilling survey vessel built by local shipyard GOT Marine to a design by Naval Dynamics. Multicat will be used primarily for drilling in support of geotechnical investigations of the seabed along Norway’s entire coastline including shallow water areas. It is a replacement for an earlier vessel which sank following an accident in February 2022. To ensure it will be more capable of operating in adverse weather year-round, a catamaran design was selected for the new vessel. The catamaran is configured as a drill boat, which will feature a number of advantages over a barge fitted with a traditional drilling setup. The most notable are mooring options with a winch and DGPS (differential global positioning system) coordination. Multiconsult said this ensures stability and quality of surveys even at greater water depths, as well as efficient transits between drilling points. The resulting geotechnical reports will form the basis for the development of ferry berths, breakwaters, quays, onshore facilities, and other maritime infrastructure. The Multicat vessel features all-aluminum construction, a length of about 79 feet, a beam of 26 feetand a crew of three. In addition to standard diesel, the engine can also run on fossil fuel-free alternatives generating up to 95% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel. The dimensions and propulsion make the catamaran larger and faster than earlier Multiconsult vessels. The owner also stated the innovative design and advanced engine options contribute to a significant reduction in fuel consumption compared to previous boats. The deck equipment includes an HS.Marine AK13 crane, Lofoten Hydraulikk anchor handling winches, and Certex anchors and mooring gear. Ground surveys and environmental geological surveys are carried out through openings in the deck, thus ensuring greater safety for the crew. As part of its standard operating profile, Multicat will be deployed along with two other Multiconsult vessels that will carry out geotechnical surveys and environmental geological surveys along the coast. The catamaran design helps reduce fuel consumption. GEOTECH
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk4Mzk=