Mobilised from Loyang Offshore Supply Base in Singapore, the Pacific Warlock and the Pacific Worker AHT vessels were central in the installation and hook-up of the STP Mooring system in the Puffin Field, located in the Timor Sea off the coast of Darwin.

Carrying six 43 tonne Stevshark anchors and over 300 tonnes of ground chain between them, the Worker and the Warlock worked to installation procedures produced by Orwell Offshore engineers. The vessels laid and installed all anchors, ground chain and subsea connection apparatus making up the moorings of the STP subsea buoy.

Prior to the hook-up of the STP buoy in field, both AHTs were used to tow the STP buoy approximately 83 nautical miles into the field, after weather conditions necessitated the initial heavy lift vessel (HLV) offloading the buoy in a more sheltered location. Wave impact analysis and procedures were produced by Orwell Offshore to ensure that the buoy, its mooring lines and the vessels arrived safely at the field for hook-up.

HLV handing over the STP subsea buoy to the AHTs ready for towing to field

Following Orwell Offshore procedures, the AHTs connected the STP Buoy’s mooring wires to the ground chain using ‘Balltec’ mooring connectors.