Norway contributes MSPV to Med migrant crisis response

MAY 15, 2015 — Responding to the Mediterranean migrant crisis, Norway is sending the MPSV Siem Pilot to support the European Union’s Operation Triton, Prime Minister Erna Solberg announced yesterday. The ship aims to sail from Norway before the end of the month.

The vessel was selected by the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Organization (FLO), which received a total of 48 offers of vessels in the tender process.
According to yesterday’s statement, the ship is dimensioned to take on board more than 500 people and was selected because it has the right properties to perform the required functions.

The vessel’s charter will commence May 20, and it will take a few days to equip the ship with the necessary equipment before it departs Norway before the end of May. It is expected to take 10-14 to reach Italy and while sailing tthe ship’s crew and Norwegian police and defense personnel will practice for the Mediterranean mission.

Siem Offshore says that the vessel will be involved in border control, search and rescue operations and that the charter agreement has been made at market terms and is firm for a period of 6 months plus options.