The new striking UT 777 design has been developed in close cooperation with Island Offshore, to be used in offshore drilling operations during harsh weather conditions. The vessel (MOU) will be built in Japan by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and is scheduled for delivery in 2017. The contract is worth around £25 million to Rolls-Royce.

John Knudsen, Rolls-Royce, President - Offshore said: “This new design is based on many years of operating experience, especially from the vessel Island Wellserver which we designed in 2005. The UT 777 will be unlike anything seen before, and marks the latest chapter in the story of the Rolls-Royce UT Design vessels which have been pioneering oil and gas exploration for the past 40 years.”
The new vessel is designed to undertake a variety of subsea tasks, including Top Hole Drilling, Subsea Construction and Inspection, and Maintenance and Repair Work in deep waters. It can also be adapted to undertake light Well Intervention.

Håvard Ulstein, CEO of Island Offshore said: “We are excited about building another game changer in the offshore market. Our collaboration with the Rolls-Royce design team in Norway has been vital in this process.”

In addition to the design and engineering package, Rolls-Royce will also supply the major systems, comprising the propulsion system with six generator sets and seven electrically run thrusters, control and automation systems, mooring and anchoring deck machinery and electric systems.

Island Offshore’s new tailor made unit will include an enclosed Module Handling Tower to ensure safe and comfortable working environment for the crew while operating in harsh and cold conditions. The high operability extends the number of days it can continue to work under the weather conditions in the North Sea and at the new frontiers in the north.