Ulstein Verft delivers final vessel to Blue Ship Invest

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 — Norway’s Ulstein Verft today delivered the final newbuild in the series of six X-Bow PX 121 platform supply vessels ordered by Ulstein Group’s Blue Ship Invest. The ship, the Blue Protector, will be managed by Atlantic Offshore and will go on the spot market in the North Sea.

Atlantic Offshore is the manager for two previous vessels in the series. The latest vessels have been adapted to requirements for work in the Norwegian sector. That includes more power in order to keep position in foul weather at rig, and NOx reduction for the exhaust emissions. In addition, the latest vessels carry the light ice class (ICE-C), to be prepared for work further north.

The first platform supply vessel in the series was delivered from Ulstein Verft in 2012.

Ulstein Group decided to invest in the construction of a series of newly developed medium-sized PSV designs from its own shipyard to introduce them to the market after surveys had shown that the size and capacity would be very attractive for various assignments.

All of the vessels previously delivered to Blue Ship Invest have entered into firm contracts in the North Sea and Ulstein says interest in the design has been steadily increasing world-wide. So far, Ulstein has sold design and equipment packages for eight of these vessels for construction at several yards in south east Asia and China.

Ulstein says the vessels of the PX121 design have an optimal combination of fuel-efficiency and deadweight, offering capacities and performance close to the segment for larger PSVs, but at a cost that provides excellent value-for-money.

The vessels’ X-Bow hull line design offers efficiency over a wide draft range, which is important for PSVs as they frequently operate with varying loads. Moreover, the X-BOW has unique, beneficial qualities in terms of motion and propulsion efficiency in heavy seas. Both the hull and choice of propulsion system make the vessels particularly suited for North Sea and North Atlantic conditions.

Blue Protector has a length of 83.4 m and a beam of 18 m and keeps a maximum speed of approximately 16 knots. She has a load capacity of 4,100 tonnes (dwt), and the 850 sq.m cargo deck can carry a deck load of 2,200 tonnes. In addition to tanks for oil, water and drilling fluids, the vessel has four stainless steel tanks for flammable liquids.

Blue Protector has accommodations for 23 persons, is equipped with a dynamic positioning system IMO class II and meets the requirements of DNV’s Clean Design notation.