Saipem 7000 Completes Major Black Sea Installation
The Saipem 7000, one of the world’s largest semi-submersible crane vessels, has successfully completed the offshore installation of the Neptun Alpha production platform in Romania’s Black Sea. The operation marks a major milestone for the Neptun Deep project, currently the largest offshore natural gas development under construction in the European Union.
The installation campaign included lifting and positioning the platform’s massive steel jacket, weighing more than 7,500 tonnes and standing approximately 135 metres high. The platform topside, weighing around 9,000 tonnes, was then installed using the heavy-lift capabilities of Saipem 7000.
Neptun Deep is being developed by OMV Petrom and Romgaz and is expected to begin natural gas production in 2027. Once operational, the project is expected to significantly strengthen Romania’s domestic gas production and become one of the European Union’s most important offshore energy developments.
In addition to installing the production platform, the project includes approximately 160 kilometres of offshore pipeline and subsea infrastructure connecting the offshore fields to the Romanian coast. Several vessels from Saipem’s fleet are involved in the campaign, with Saipem 7000 carrying out the heavy-lift operations.
The successful completion of the offshore installation campaign represents one of the most significant engineering achievements in the Black Sea this year and highlights the growing importance of offshore energy projects in the region.
