Port hosts larger-than-usual guest

The Port of Broome recently hosted one if its more unusual looking visitors — a purpose-built heavy lift and pipe-laying vessel.

The 184m Derrick Lay Vessel 2000 tied alongside the wharf earlier this month to take on consumables was photographed from the air by a hovering drone.

The DLV combines a 2200-tonne revolving crane with an under-deck system capable of installing various diameter pipelines in depths of more than 3000m.

It will service Inpex’s Icthys LNG project in the off-shore Browse Basin for several months before returning to Batam in Indonesia for another project.

The DLV can accommodate up to 400 personnel and it has its own helicopter pad.

Port chief executive Kevin Schellack said the visit was a sign of things to come, albeit from slightly smaller vessels.

“The Port of Broome will facilitate weekly visits from tender vessels to supply both the DLV2000 and the smaller lay vessel LV108 during the period of infield works,” he said.