Bergen Group to build rescue and response vessels for Sartor

Norway’s Bergen Group BMV has been awarded contracts for the construction of three multi-purpose offshore vessels for Sartor Offshore AS. The contracts have total value of about NOK 1 billion (US $168.5 million).

The first vessel, with a value of approximately NOK 330 million (US $55.5 million), is scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of next year. The ship will then go into a 10-year lease agreement with Statoil for operations in the North Sea. The contract is subject to final funding being arranged before the end of January 2011.

The contracts on the other two ships have a value of approximately NOK 670 million (US $113 million), and require final funding to be put in place during the second quarter of 2011. Both these vessels are to be delivered within the end of 2012.

All three ships will have a very low fuel consumption compared to existing tonnage, and the vessels are equipped with fuel catalyzers that reduce the NOx emissions by 90 percent. The design layout is optimized for operations under demanding conditions.

The first ship is a next-generation multi-purpose offshore emergency rescue and response support vessel. The ship is a multifunctional vessel of VS 465 MK II design, developed by Wärtsilä Ship Design in close cooperation with the shipping company.

The ship has a length of 74 meters and is specially designed to protect both emergency preparedness operations as well as demanding rescue operations. The ship is an improved version of the VS 465, a design that is used in Sartor’s currently newest ship which will operate for Gaz de France on the Gjoa field in the North Sea west of the Norwegian town Floro. The two other ships contracted are based on a VS 480-design. These ships have a length of 80 meters.

“Development and renewal of the fleet of ships is crucial when we negotiate with our clients,” says Sartor Offshore CEO Roy Wareberg. “The company has ambitions to be one of the leaders in oil-spill preparedness.” He says the ships in the company’s fleetrenewal plan will set a new standard for the sector. The company put an emphasis on equipping the vessels with the latest installations and facilities needed to meet the regulations and specifications expected from an offshore emergency rescue and response support vessel. The ship will have residue recuperation equipment for oil and chemicals, special radars that measure pollution levels, oil skimmers and similar equipment. The ships are also outfitted with advanced equipment for fire protection and fire fighting.

Bergen Group BMV is one of two shipyards owned by Bergen Group ASA.

January 13, 2011