Castoro Sei

The Castoro Sei in the Baltic Sea, south-east of Gotland on contract to Nord Stream, March 2011
History
Name:	Castoro Sei
Owner:	Saipem
Operator:	Saipem
Port of registry:	Nassau,  Bahamas
Builder:	Fincantieri, Italy
Yard number:	4334
Laid down:	20 May 1975
Completed:	1978
Identification:	Callsign C6DF4 IMO number: 8758603 MMSI number: 308162000
Status:	In service
General characteristics
Tonnage:	31,506 GT
Length:	152 m (499 ft)
Beam:	70.5 m (231 ft)
Draught:	15.5 m (51 ft)
Depth:	29.8 m (98 ft)
Speed:	5.8 knots (10.7 km/h; 6.7 mph)
Crew:	330

The Castoro Sei (Italian for Beaver Six) is a column stabilized semi-submersible pipelay vessel. She has an overall length of 152 metres (499 ft), a width of 70.5 metres (231 ft) and an operating draught of 7.8 to 15.5 metres (26 to 51 ft).

The Castoro Sei is equipped with 2 rotating gantry cranes 134 tonnes capacity, three 130 tonnes pipe tensioners and a 400 tonnes abandon and recovery winch for pipelaying. She provides accommodation for 354 persons.

The firing line comprises the fixed pipelay ramp, enclosed in the central housing, running along the longitudinal centreline of the vessel. It is connected to an internal and external ramp, both of which have adjustable inclination to facilitate pipelay in varying water depths. A ramp extension unit is available for use in deep water or for severe seabed conditions.

The Castoro Sei was built in 1978 by Fincantieri at Trieste yard, and is owned and operated by Saipem. Her port of registry is Nassau, Bahamas.

She has been used for laying a number of pipelines in the Black Sea, North Sea and Mediterranean Sea, including Blue Stream, Greenstream, Medgaz, Trans-Mediterranean, Europipe II, and BBL pipelines. The vessel is also deployed for laying the Nord Stream pipeline in the Baltic Sea.