HAV Design has successfully completed what it describes as one of its most technically demanding vessel conversions, transforming the offshore vessel ‘Rem Inspector’ into a specialised IMR vessel tailored for Equinor’s operations.
The project is said to have pushed both design and engineering limits, and was delivered at a pace rarely seen in the offshore industry.
Originally built by HAV Design in 2013, the Rem Inspector was selected for conversion due to its compatibility with the critical need for a vessel equipped with a 400t module handling system (MHS) tower. The upgrade was part of a new multi-year contract with Equinor, requiring a vessel capable of operating three ROVs and handling subsea modules weighing up to 80t. Given the tight schedule, constructing a new vessel was out of the question. A conversion became the only viable solution.
After a comprehensive feasibility study, HAV Design’s experts concluded that the MHS tower could indeed be installed on the existing hull. A detailed conversion plan was quickly developed, and the Fayard shipyard in Denmark was chosen for the work. Although the conversion was initially estimated to take up to 12 weeks, the project was completed in just six weeks—considered a remarkable achievement made possible through seamless collaboration between HAV Design, Rem Offshore, and DOF Subsea.
Rem Inspector’s environmental credentials were upgraded as part of the project, with modern emission-reducing technologies, improving both environmental performance and operational capability. These include installing a battery system (ESS) and an exhaust gas cleaning system (SCR), the latter requiring a comprehensive rebuild of the casing around the exhaust pipes, as well as providing a new dynamic positioning (DP) system and associated reference systems.
Petter Frøystad, Technical Manager at HAV Design, said: “All design, engineering, and equipment documentation must be ready before the vessel arrives at the shipyard. The success of this project was built on the tight interplay between technical expertise and operational experience.”
Image: ‘Rem Inspector’ (source; HAV Design)
