Maersk Supply orders offshore vessels from Chilean shipbuilder

Written by Nick Blenkey

maersk_supplylogoMaersk Supply Service has signed a contract with Chilean shipyard Asenav for two innovative new offshore vessels with an option for up to four additional vessels.

The project value for the two vessels is close to $200 million. The vessels will replace existing vessels operating in the Canadian offshore market.

“We are very pleased with this order for new vessels which as far as working environment for the crew onboard and a green operational profile will be a substantial improvement from today’s standards,” says CEO of Maersk Supply Service, Carsten Plougmann Andersen.

The vessels will be suitable for services that include iceberg management, anchor handling, standby, general support of drilling rigs and other offshore installations and supplying essential supplies – like fuel, water, equipment, drilling mud and other materials required for drilling operations.

“These vessels will set a new standard for emission levels, operational efficiency and uptime in the offshore industry because of many new design features,” Mr. Plougmann says. The order is part of Maersk Supply Service’s planned investment program which continues to focus on deepwater and harsh environment areas.

The two vessels have been designed to fit with the operational profile of the vessels working offshore East Canada. That means the hull has been designed to fit with the speed and work patterns in the ultra harsh environment. Unlike conventional supply vessels, all machinery is optimized for low energy consumption. Main and side propellers only rotate when needed. Furthermore, ventilation of the engine room, cooling water to the engine and other systems are now being applied more intelligently to match with the needs of the crew and the engines. In total, the new features are expected to reduce energy consumption on the vessels by up to 25 percent.

The vessels have been designed in collaboration with Maersk Maritime Technology and Wartsila Ship design, and will have a bollard pull of 150 tonnes.

The vessels are expected to be delivered in February 2014 and January of 2015, respectively.

Maersk Supply Service has a strong position in the Canadian offshore market and is currently operating nine vessels for a number of customers in the area with base port in St John’s, Newfoundland.

December 15, 2011

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