Seawater Cooling Ordered By VARD For Newbuild Cable Layer

Norwegian VARD has contracted Hydroniq Coolers to deliver a hull-integrated seawater cooling system for a cable laying vessel the shipbuilder is designing and building for Prysmian Group.

Under the contracts, Ålesund-based Hydroniq Coolers – formerly named Sperre Coolers – will deliver its Hydroniq Rack seawater cooling solution that will be integrated in the hull below the main engine room of the vessel. Marine cooling systems are utilised to reduce temperatures in the ships’ engines and other auxiliary systems through use of seawater.

Hydroniq Coolers has not disclosed the value of the contract.

“This is a cutting edge-edge vessel that is intended to be the most capable cable layer in its market. High-end technology specially designed for advanced subsea operations is coupled with a reduced environmental footprint. As such, our Hydroniq Rack marine cooling system is a good fit for the vessel as it is the most energy efficient and maintenance friendly seawater cooling system around,” says Inge Bøen, CEO of Hydroniq Coolers.

The Hydroniq Rack seawater cooler offers several operational and economic advantages compared with traditional plate heat exchangers. The system provides a simplified and short pipeline for seawater and has very low pressure loss which reduces energy consumption for seawater pumps and thus lower fuel consumption.

“Our Rack marine cooling system will be specially designed for this cable layer, ensuring that we take up as little weight and space as possible and reduce overhaul downtime to a minimum. This, in combination with maintenance requirements close to zero, cuts operating expenditure significantly, which enables the end user to operate a much more profitable vessel,” adds Inge Bøen.

The newbuild cable layer will features deep water installation capabilities for depths of more than 2,000 meters and high cable loading capacity in large cable rotating platforms. The cable layer is developed to perform complex installation operations, supported by a variety of burial systems, including heavy duty ploughs, and state-of-the-art positioning and seakeeping systems. With a length of 172 meters, and a beam of 34 meters, the vessel will be able to accommodate a crew of 120 persons.

The cable layer is designed by Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway. The vessel is scheduled for delivery from Vard Brattvaag in Norway, in 4Q 2020. The hull will be built at Vard Tulcea in Romania.

Hydroniq Coolers will deliver its seawater cooling system to Vard Brattvaag in the first quarter of 2020.

Hydroniq Coolers delivers marine cooling solutions to vessels that operate within offshore, shipping, cruise, passenger transport, fishery and fish farming. Shipowners, yards and ship designers are among the company’s customers and cooperation partners. The company is owned by Norwegian investment company SMV Invest AS (formerly Sperre Mek. Verksted AS).

Prysmian Group is world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry. It operates in the businesses of underground and submarine cables and systems for power transmission and distribution, of special cables for applications in many different industries and of medium and low voltage cables for the construction and infrastructure sectors.