MV Solitaire

This ship is due to anchor tomorrow at 0700hrs at No.3 anchorage Firth of Clyde [off the town of Largs]

She will be at anchor for about 5 days taking on pipes supplied by tenders.

I am hoping to get down tomorrow to get some photographs that may be of interest to members.

The Solitaire is the largest pipe-laying ship in the world at 300 metres (984 ft.) long (excluding pipe-laying apparatus) and 96,000 tonnes (94,000 long tons; 106,000 short tons). When fully operational she has a crew of 420, a pipe carrying capacity of 22,000 metric tons and a pipe lay speed of more than 9 km a day.

She was built in 1972 as a bulk carrier and launched under the name Trentwood by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at their shipyard in Hiroshima, Japan, and later converted to a pipe-laying vessel between 1996 and 1998 at Swan Hunter Shipyard on Tyneside in England. The ship is owned by the Allseas Group, a Dutch pipe laying and marine construction firm with their headquarters in Switzerland.

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Comment by Phill on March 11, 2012 at 23:55: Thanks for the info John.

Comment by George Ford on April 1, 2012 at 16:50: Interesting info. John, thanks.

Comment by John McLeish on April 1, 2012 at 18:06: Thanks George.

She is still at anchor in the Firth.[now at No 6 anchorage]

Comment by Ben W on April 2, 2012 at 12:45: Hi John,

Just found a fantastic video showing this "Factory At Sea"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyrdjqEiTZc

Comment by John McLeish on April 2, 2012 at 21:43: Thanks Ben,

cracking video, she was also shown on a prog. called Mighty Ships last week.

A wee twist............

On speaking to the Clyde Port Authority duty manager he refered to Solitaire as 'He' not 'She'

It may be my ignorance, but I always refered to ships as 'She' maybe some members could enlighten me with regards this........

John.

Comment by Ben W on April 2, 2012 at 22:05: I must admit I've never heard ships (or aircraft for that matter) refered to in the male. Strange one.

Comment by LDSP on April 3, 2012 at 9:06: What does Edamgracht do there ?

Comment by John McLeish on April 3, 2012 at 12:40: There have been all sorts of vessels alongside delivering supplies and I presume materals for the constructing of the pipes......

I have heard, although not confirmed, she will be going to lay pipes off the Shetland Isles.

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