TEHRAN – The first Iranian-made pipe laying barge dubbed “PLB 130” started its test operation in the waters of the southern Iranian port of Bushehr yesterday.

Construction of the 20,000-ton vessel has cost Iran Sadra (Iran Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Complex Co.) about 80 million dollars, Abdol-Khaleq Ravanbod, the CEO of the growing Iranian shipbuilding yard located in Bushehr, said.

Generation of 11,000 kilowatts of power, the arrangement of various processing stations for beveling, pipe alignment, automatic welding, three offshore deck cranes for both pipe and anchor lifting as well as its ability to lay 2,500 meters of pipes per day are some characteristics of the barge.

The offshore craft has been designed for the processing and laying pipes with diameters of 8-42-inch and to water depths between 10m and 100m, the Persian service of IRNA said on Friday. For pipeline repair, the lay barge has pipe davits for hoisting from down to 60m water depth. Also, ten 90-ton winches located at the bow and stern are used for positioning and proceeding ten 15-ton anchors.

The shipbuilding company has developed a safety concept to provide best possible protection and safety for the maximum 243 persons onboard the pipe laying barge.

As its maiden voyage, PLB 130 will be then heading South Pars oil and gas field located in Assaluyeh region in southern Iran to begin the pipe laying operation in the Phase 8 of the gas field development plan there.