A&P Falmouth has won a prestigious contract to repair the sophisticated pipeline trenching vessel Calamity Jane, which will dry-dock in early January. Over Christmas and the New Year break the ship remain on County Wharf.

A&P Falmouth;’s commercial director David Daniel said: “This contract was won against stiff competition from the other major European yards. It is a significant package of work for us and the first time Allseas have dry-docked in Falmouth. Our focus is now to do a good job and ensure they return.”

Calamity Jane is one of the most versatile vessels afloat specially equipped for pipeline trenching, the flooding, gauging and testing (FGT) of pipelines. The vessel can undertake the installation of sub-sea structures, surveying and other operations required by her owners Allseas, who are one of the major offshore pipelaying and subsea construction companies in the world.

This summer Calamity Jane has been involved in pipe laying operations in the Laggan and Tormore gas condensate fields, that are located approximately 125 kilometres north west of the Shetland Islands, on the edge of the Continental Shelf. The vessel’s slender ship-shape and efficient propulsion system combine to facilitate a high transit speed and excellent workability, and precise manoeuvring on full dynamic positioning allowing her to operate safely in congested areas. She is also fitted with survey equipment, several cranes and lifting appliances, and equipment for FGT and mattress installation.

In addition to supporting the Allseas fleet, Calamity Jane can operate as an independent trenching unit. Onboard she carries another aptly named character called Digging Donald, a remotely operated mechanical trencher.

Controlled by operatives on the ship via an umbilical cable supplying power and command signals Digging Donald never makes contact with the pipeline and can operate in depths up to 450 metres.

Depending on soil conditions, the machine can achieve a high trench depth from the original seabed level using either mechanical or jetting systems.

Digging Donald creates a v-shaped trench underneath the pipeline using mechanical digging arms and multi-pass jetting. The pipeline gradually sinks into the trench behind the machine. Operational modes include trenching, jetting, backfilling and survey.

Digging Donald has trenched more than 3,500 kilometres of pipeline worldwide.