Seafox 5 Ready For Merkur

The 151-metre, self-propelled, DP2, jack-up rig Seafox 5 has left the Damen Verolme Rotterdam (DVR) shipyard following a four-month refit.

The primary reason for the visit to the shipyard was to lengthen the main boom of the vessel’s Liebherr crane. This will enable Seafox 5 to fulfil an upcoming contract with GeoSea to install 66 six-megawatt wind turbines at the Merkur wind farm off the coast of Germany.

While the jack-up was alongside, a series of other works were undertaken including a special periodic survey, testing the jacking system up to 70-metres above sea level, renewing the leg guide wear plates, installing a secondary Sormec crane, and a repaint.

Seafox 5 is now equipped to undertake offshore wind projects involving the next generation of larger wind turbines in water depths of up to 65 metres, according to Damen.

Delivered in 2012, Seafox 5 is owned and operated by jack-up specialist Seafox BV. 151 metres long and with a breadth of 50 metres, she is the largest vessel in the Seafox fleet and has a 1,200-tonne main crane and accommodation for up to 150 personnel.

Seafox 5 Rig manager Alex Eijgenraam said: “Seafox 5’s call at the Damen Verolme yard marked a busy and intense period for Seafox 5, its crew and office project team. However, all the scheduled works were completed on time and without incident. Seafox 5 left the yard as good as new and ready for her next assignment for the offshore wind industry. The long experience of Damen Verolme with jack up rigs has contributed greatly to this result.”