Obana
Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam undertakes broad scope of work on Obana
- Date
- May 2025
- Ship name
- Obana
- Ship type
- Offshore Oil and Gas
- Yard
- Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam (Botlek)
- Tasks performed for this project
- Conversion
Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam was one of a number of project partners involved in the creation of the Obana – a self elevating, 230 x 80 metre jack-up platform. The Obana was conceived of by Petrodec to undertake the decommissioning of complex offshore platforms, primarily in the UK sector of the North Sea.
The Obana consists of two existing jack-ups, merged into a single platform, together with a new mid-section specially constructed in Dubai. The project commenced back in 2021. For Damen Shiprepair, however, the real action began in late 2024.
It was then that the three units were brought together in Rotterdam. Here, the Obana’s 2,000 ton crane was brought from Leibherr in Rostock for installation at Mammoet. With this done, it was time for the units to be merged.
To facilitate this, Damen Shiprepair had already prepared both fore and aft sections. On 13 December, the three units were docked in Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam’s Botlek location in drydock number 7.
This dock, at 405 x 90 metres, is the largest in Western Europe. In this instance, the size was of crucial importance. Specifically, the breadth of the dock was required to be sufficient to accommodate the 80 metres width of the three units.
With the units positioned by hydraulic jacks, welding got underway. With the units merged, Damen Shiprepair was able to undertake its role in creating four new passageways connecting the fore and aft sections via the new mid section. With this, Damen Shiprepair added in the region of 300 tons of steel to the platform.
This contribution was increased by a further 200 tons of steel with Damen Shiprepair’s installation of all reinforcements and foundations for the Obana’s two 60 ton cranes, as well as the boom rest for the main crane – for which Damen Shiprepair also provided assistance during installation.
Further work undertaken by Damen Shiprepair included assisting with the piping interface for the three sections, thereby ensuring the connection of all systems, painting of the external hull and supporting Petrodec with the completion of works.