Support Vessel

ABB $15m Order to Power Chinese Vessels

ABB, a power and automation technology group, has won orders worth $15m from Shanghai Salvage Company and Guangzhou Salvage Bureau for the supply of electric power and propulsion systems for a new diving support vessel and semi-submersible heavy lift vessel. The newly contracted semi-submersible heavy lift vessel is the sixth of its type to be awarded to ABB over the last two years. ABB – in cooperation with local partner Kongsberg – will also deliver the vessel’s automation system. China Merchants Heavy Industry Group is the main contractor for construction of the vessel, which is targetted for delivery in 2011.   Shanghai Salvage’s diving support vessel newbuild looks to fill in the gap for deepwater (300 metres deep and greater) diving salvage capability in China, and is also the first diving support vessel ever built in the country.  All equipment is to be delivered in 2010–2011. (www.abb.com)

Petrobas Contracts For 23 New OSV's

Petrobras has signed contracts with Brazilian shipbuilders as part of its 3rd 'Fleet Renewal Plan for Offshore Support Vessels (OSV's). The units, type PSV 4500 and OSRV 750, fulfill 60% local content requirements and will be built in Brazil. Petrobas say tha prices presented were competitive, given expected metrics and budgets.
 This was the 4th Round of the Fleet Renewal Plan. In July this year, Petrobras will go to the market for another 24 offshore support vessels (5th Round)

China Shipyard Tackles First PSV Order

JES International subisidiaries JES Universal Co. and Jiangsu Eastern Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. to build a UT 755 LN Platform Support Vessel. The contract is the Group’s first, in over thirty years of its history, for the construction of an offshore support vessel and is representative of the Group’s expansion from building commercial shipping vessels to constructing more complicated and sophisticated offshore support vessels.

Aker Yards Secures Contracts for Diving Support Vessels

Aker Yards ASA said it won an order from DOF ASA for a diving support vessel (DSV), and a contract from DOFCON ASA and Technip for a second DSV. For DOF, Aker Yards will build a DSV based on Aker Yards' Aker DSV06 design, while the other DSV will be to the Aker OSCV-06L DSV design. Source: Forbes

OSV Sector Wary of Overcrowding

The offshore support vessel (OSV) segment – over-capacity driving down utlilization and charter rates THE offshore support vessel (OSV) segment - touted as the bright spot where other traditional shipping markets are suffering - may entice tanker and bulk-carrier operators to jump ship, according to a recent Singapore Business Times article. However, OSV operators and owners are wary of such a crossover, and warn that if the sector gets more crowded

ONYX Special Services to Add ROV to Fleet

ONYX Special Services, soon to be Veolia Environmental Services, will be adding a DP2 ROV support vessel to its fleet, servicing the Gulf of Mexico. The RSV Toisa Vigilant will be supporting the 150 hp Triton XLS17 and the 100 hp Triton XL ROV. The Toisa Vigilant will be mobilizing the ROV's as well as a 35 ton knuckle boom crane during the last week in April 2006. We will be ready for service early May 06. There will also be a stern launched 50 ton heave compensated

Coast Guard, Navy to Conduct Security Exercise

A flotilla of military and support vessels Tuesday will conduct a joint security exercise off of the entrance to Pearl Harbor. Persons viewing this exercise from shore or from other vessels should not be alarmed - this is only an exercise. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Galveston Island along with small boats from Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Naval Submarine Support Command, and the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu will exercise a variety of security scenarios

Damen Gets Contract to Build Navy LSV

On January 10, 2005 a contract was signed between the Royal Netherlands Navy and Damen Shipyards Gorinchem for the design and construction of a Logistic Support Vessel (LSV). Following a tender procedure the initial award took place at the end of 2004 after which the contract was signed early January. The 65 m long Support Vessel will be based in the Caribbean and will be deployed for the transport of equipment and personnel, mainly within the Netherlands Antilles.

Keppel Singmarine Wins $46M in Contracts

Keppel Singmarine received orders for four offshore support vessels (OSVs) and two tugboats for about $46 million. The vessels will be progressively delivered to their owners up to first half of 2007. Currently, Keppel Singmarine has 22 vessels under construction, having delivered nine since the beginning of 2005. Its strong orderbook has placed the Company as one of the world’s leading builders of offshore support vessels.

UK Takes Delivery of New Coastguard Boats

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has taken delivery of four new boats from Vosper Thorneycroft Halmatic for use around the United Kingdom coastline. Delivered so are a general purpose support vessel to the Isles of Scilly and three Artic 22 rigid inflatable boats (RIB) to Holyhead, Hull and St Andrews in Scotland. The support vessel can reach speeds of more than 30 knots, and will be used to reach the smaller harbors and inlets in the Isles of Scilly and in Cornwall