Gulf Marine Services (GMS), a leading elevating support vessel operator in the region, is developing one of the most flexible and capable vessels in the market.

The uniquely designed self-propelled self elevating jack-up barge is currently under construction in Abu Dhabi and once ready it will be capable of operating in deeper waters and harsh environments, said a statement from GMS.

GMS has developed the design along with MSC Gusto which incorporates an operating water depth of up to 65 metres, accommodation for 150 persons, deck space of 1000 sq m, deck load of 11,350 tonnes, self propelled DP2 (dynamic positioning), heavy lift crane capacity of up to 350 tonnes and four legs for faster jacking on location.

Requirements from existing customers in the energy sector and potential demand from new markets has resulted in the design of “GMS Endurance”. The design's extreme flexibility will be suited to a much wider range of opportunities than existing vessels currently in the market.

Offshore accommodation and construction, well intervention and workovers and drilling completions are some of the key Oil & Gas sectors GMS Endurance has been targeted to work in.

The company also has plans to expand into the renewables sector, and with this state of the art vessel currently under construction and another sister vessel ,“GMS Endeavour” also under construction, this will position GMS as one of the only providers of jack-up barges capable of working in the sector.

Andy Cobban, technical manager of the construction division, said: “The 'GMS Endurance' is a state of the art barge and the design elements it encompasses will position it as the most flexible in the market at present. The size and flexibility of the design provides it with a greater scope of opportunities within the market and it can be further adapted to suit particular client requirements.

“We already have five working jack-up barges and we are looking to further increase GMS’ presence in the Middle East and Internationally. Through the unique design of GMS Endurance and GMS Endeavour, we are confident of broadening our opportunities in existing markets and expanding into new markets,” Cobban added.

The ‘GMS Endurance’ is the first of two new Gusto 2500X vessels planned by GMS over the next 12 months, with The GMS Endeavour currently having its hull towed to the company’s Mussafah shipyard for completion in 2010.

The barges have been designed with a view to further increasing GMS’ presence in the Middle Eastern, West African and North Sea markets.-TradeArabia News Service