The contract showcases Vulcan’s capacity to produce components, outsource processes, assemble and deliver complex engineering solutions to industry.

Paul Mockford, Design Director at Vulcan SFM, said: “The Bluewater contract is significant as a first major project for Vulcan, because it requires a broad project managed approach and we have a relatively short timescale in which to deliver the components.

“Vulcan was established to handle contracts of this calibre and we have a very experienced team which enables us to take on increasingly diverse engineering challenges.”

Sheffield Forgemasters’ foundry will cast some of the components for the mooring system but the forged pins, bushes and fasteners will be sourced from outside the group. The company’s machine shop will finish machine the pins and assemble the units. Specialist coating of the components to withstand the harsh environment of the North Sea will also be outsourced.

The finished units will form a crucial part of the heavy-duty mooring system which will hold the Aoka Mizu in place and connect it to a submersible buoy during its forthcoming operations at the Ettrick oil field, Northeast of Aberdeen.

Bluewater specifically developed the Aoka Mizu’s turret-mooring system, which is suitable for water-depths of up to 3000m and designed for use in areas which are prone to hurricanes or icebergs. It will enable the Aoka Mizu FPSO to safely connect without any assistance to a pre-installed submersible buoy during the winter season in the North Sea.