DCV Balder

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title: "DCV Balder" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ships-built-by-mitsui-engineering-and-shipbuilding", "ships-of-the-netherlands", "pipe-laying-ships", "crane-vessels", "semi-submersibles", "1978-ships"] description: "Deepwater construction vessel built in 1978" topic_path: "engineering" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DCV_Balder" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Deepwater construction vessel built in 1978 ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox ship"]

Field	Value
display_title	DCV Balder
section1	{{Infobox ship/image
image	Balder off Trinidad.JPG
section2	{{Infobox ship/career
name	Balder
namesake	Baldr (god in Norse mythology)
operator	Heerema Marine Contractors
builder	*Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding
completed	1978
registry	Panama City, Panama
identification	*Call sign 3EWK
status	In service
section3	{{Infobox ship/characteristics
class	Deepwater Construction Vessel
tonnage
displacement	104,355 tonnes
length	154 m
beam	86 m (118 m incl. J-Lay)
height	101 m (J-Lay tower to workdeck)
draft	27 m max
depth	42 m
propulsion	7 × 3,500 kW azimuth thrusters and two propellers.
complement	350 berths
::

|display_title=DCV Balder |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=Balder off Trinidad.JPG |image_caption=

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country= |flag= |name=Balder |namesake = Baldr (god in Norse mythology) |owner= |operator=Heerema Marine Contractors |ordered= |awarded= |builder=*Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding

• conversion to a DCV by Verolme Botlek |yard_number= |laid_down= |launched= |sponsor= |christened= |completed= 1978 |acquired= |commissioned= |recommissioned= |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |renamed= |reclassified= |refit= |struck= |reinstated= |registry=Panama City, Panama |identification=*Call sign 3EWK

|motto= |nickname= |honours= |captured= |status=In service |fate= |notes= |badge=

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class= Deepwater Construction Vessel |tonnage= |displacement= 104,355 tonnes |length= 154 m |beam= 86 m (118 m incl. J-Lay) |height= 101 m (J-Lay tower to workdeck) |draft= 27 m max |depth=42 m |hold_depth= |ice_class= |power= |propulsion=7 × 3,500 kW azimuth thrusters and two propellers. |speed= |range= |endurance= |boats= |capacity= |complement=350 berths |crew= |troops= |sensors= |EW= |armament= |armour= |aircraft= |aircraft_facilities= |notes=

History

The Balder was constructed in 1978 as semi-submersible crane vessel by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Balder and sister vessel, Hermod were the world's first semi-submersible crane vessels. In the early 1980s these vessels set several lift records while operating in the North Sea. Conversion to a DCV was carried out in 2001 by Verolme Botlek BV in the Netherlands.

Design

The hull consists of two floaters with three columns each. The transit draught of 12 meters is normally ballasted down to 25 meters for lifting operations, with the floaters (with a draught of 12 meters) well-submerged, reducing the effect of waves and swell.

It is powered by seven 3,500 kW azimuth thrusters and two propellers. There is accommodation for 350 persons. Lightship weight is 49,631 tonnes.

In the 2001 conversion, it was fitted with seven thrusters and a J-lay system. The 98 m J-Lay tower, designed and constructed by Huisman Itrec, is capable of laying pipe in water depths to 3000 m. Balder was also equipped with class III dynamic positioning system and a mooring line deployment winch. The winch is the largest in the world, with a diameter of 10.5 meters and a safe working load (SWL) of 275 t.

Cranes

The Balder has two cranes (3600 t, 2700 t). Originally the starboard-side crane was rated at 3000 short ton and the port-side at 2000 short ton. In 1984, the lifting capacities were upgraded to 4000 and 3000 short tons respectively in a fixed mode (and 3300 & 2200 in revolving mode). To accommodate the J-Lay tower, the port crane jib was converted to a fly jib in 2001.

Remarkable projects

• In 1978 Occidental’s Piper Alpha was the first platform installation with a Semi Submersible Crane Vessel. It was a British platform that blew out and burned to the water, killing 167 of its crew.
• In 2005 the world's largest semi-submersible platform, BP's Thunder Horse, was installed. Later in the year, Balder assisted in righting Thunder Horse, found listing dramatically after Hurricane Dennis.
• In 2006 it installed BP’s Mardi Gras Atlantis gas export pipeline (0.6 m / 24 in diameter) in a record breaking water depth of 2220 meters (7217 feet).{{cite web |url=http://www.heerema.com/content/hmc/inthenews/editorials/items/200602worldpipelines.pdf |title=World Pipelines, Installing on Time |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510235640/http://www.heerema.com/content/hmc/inthenews/editorials/items/200602worldpipelines.pdf |archivedate=May 10, 2006
• in 2007 it moored the Independence Hub Facility in a record breaking water depth of 2438 m (8000 ft), with a world record for the deepest flow line installation of 2743 m (9000 ft).

References

References

1. "DCV Balder". [[Heerema Marine Contractors]].
2. "History". [[Heerema Marine Contractors]].
3. "Conversion Projects: Balder". Keppel Verolme.
4. (May 2003). "Installation of the Horn Mountain Spar Using the Enhanced DCV Balder". OnePetro.
5. "Heerema Mooring Line Deployment Winch".
6. "DCV ''Balder''". GustoMSC.
7. "Piper Alpha". Oil Rig Disasters.
8. "OilOnline, Making deepwater history".
9. "Oil Online, Back from the Brink".
10. "Rigzone, Heerema Sets World Records in Independence Hub Installation Tuesday, April 17, 2007".

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