Langsten News

Norwegian shipyard Myklebust Verft has been selected to build a pair of innovative hydrogen-powered passenger ferries ordered by Norwegian transport company Torghatten Nord.The design, produced by The Norwegian Ship Design Company for operations in the challenging waters of the Vestfjordstrekninga fjord in the Arctic Circle, received approval in principle (AIP) in August 2022 from Lloyd's Register, who has signed on to class the first-of-their-kind vessels.At 117 meters long with a 120-car capacity…

The Swedish Maritime Administration has purchased the 18-year-old icebreaker Polar Circle, expanding its fleet of icebreaking ships to help keep the nation's ports and shipping lanes clear during the cold winter months.In December, the Swedish Maritime Administration put out a tender to acquire a secondhand icebreaker, with Polar Circle emerging as the most suitable option. The agency recently ran the Polar Circle through trials in the Gulf of Bothnia before committing to purchase the vessel."We are delighted to welcome Polar Circle to our fleet.

Lloyd's Register (LR) will classify two methanol-ready Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOVs) being built by VARD for the UK-based offshore vessel operator North Star."The new tonnage will increase North Star’s offshore wind capabilities as it progresses its ambition to add 40 hybrid-powered SOVs to its fleet by 2040. The introduction of the two CSOVs will expand North Star’s capabilities to support commissioning and maintenance work essential to ensuring offshore wind farms can operate.

Three Solstad Offshore platform supply vessels (PSV) have secured new contracts with energy company ConocoPhillips Skandinavia, the Norwegian offshore vessels owner announced on Thursday.Normand Server, Normand Supporter and Normand Fortune, each on charter with ConocoPhillips Scandinavia since 2018, have been extended to continue support activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.The new contracts will start in direct continuation of current firm periods, and keep the vessels fully utilized to Q1/Q2 2027.The three vessels were built from 2011 through 2013 at Norwegian yards (Normand Fortune at Kleven and Normand Supporter and Normand Server at Vard Langsten) and range from 85.6 to 94.2 meters in length. Each is fitted with battery-hybrid systems in addition to shore power.

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has secured a contract extension for one of its platform supply vessels.In a brief statement on Wednesday, Solstad said that the one-year charter extension had been awarded to its 94,2-meter-long PSV Normand Server.The contract is now firm to January 2023, with two one-year extension options after that. Solstad did not say who the client was, nor did it share the financial details of the contract.Data from MarineTraffic show the vessel's last location was Ekofisk…

Norwegian shipbuilder VARD said it has delivered HANSEATIC spirit, the third expedition cruise vessel for German operator Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.The handover of HANSEATIC spirit completes the series of three vessels in the new Hapag-Lloyd Cruises expedition class, joining the structurally identical sister ships HANSEATIC nature and HANSEATIC inspiration, delivered by VARD in 2019.The 138 meters long and 22 meters wide HANSEATIC spirit has embarked on its journey from Norway to Hamburg…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Island Offshore earlier this month took delivery of the platform supply vessel Island Discoverer. The vessel was completed by VARD Langsten this spring.“It is always exciting to take delivery of a new ship, and we are proud and grateful that our fleet is being expanded. We look forward to putting Island Discoverer to work in a market that is showing signs of improvement after many demanding years. I wish the crew the best of luck with the operation and hope that the customers will welcome the vessel…

Island Offshore took delivery of Island Victory, a new offshore installation vessel, at VARD Langsten today (Friday, February 7, 2020).Upon delivery the vessel will head straight into operation, spending a couple of weeks in the spot market, before commencing a series of contracts – in the Barents Sea and the Gulf of Mexico – securing work for the vessel potentially throughout October this year.“We experience great interest for this vessel,” said Tommy Walaunet, Managing Director, Island Offshore Management AS. “Having jobs lined up in coming months, confirms this and is highly appreciated.

Vard, a Fincantieri subsidiary, has delivered the new Hanseatic Inspiration to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the second in a series of three 230-guest luxury expedition ships for the German cruise operator.With her close to 16,000 gross tons and 139 meters long, “Hanseatic inspiration” follows sister ship “Hanseatic nature”, delivered in April by Vard Langsten in Norway, while a third vessel, “Hanseatic spirit”, is scheduled for completion in 2021.Each ship is tailored to allow passengers to access remote regions, ranging from the Arctic and Antarctic to the Amazon, said a press release from the  Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste.“Hanseatic inspiration” features seven spacious passenger decks…

Vestdavit secured an order to supply three new Norwegian Coast Guard vessels with davits equipped for polar conditions, in a project which also calls for installation of a deck-mounted transfer system for rapid deployment.The ships are being built by Vard Group within the P6615 project to replace Nordkapp-class ships with a new generation of search-and-rescue, surveillance, and oil recovery vessels. The 136m length newbuildings have been developed for worldwide operations including arctic areas and will feature ice-strengthened hulls and ice-class notation on their delivery from Vard Langsten…

Earlier this summer Maritime Reporter & Engineering News ventured to Ålesund/Sunnmøre area of western Norway visiting local manufacturers and suppliers serving the global maritime industry and featuring a series of business and technology presentations by leading sector companies including Inmarsat, VARD Group, Ulstein Group, Brunvoll, Ulmatec, Jets, ABB Marine & Ports, Fostech AS and Rolls-Royce Marine. Tom Mulligan reports on new business developments and technology innovations…

Vard Holdings Limited has announced that it has secured a new contract for the design and construction of one luxury expedition cruise vessel for German cruise company Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The new expedition cruise vessel will join Hapag-Lloyd Cruises HANSEATIC series, together with the two vessels that VARD already has under construction for the Germany-based cruise company. Developed by VARD in close cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the vessels are specially designed for cruises in polar regions in the Arctic and Antarctica…

Vard Holdings Limited  won a contract to build three coast guard vessels for the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (NDMA) in Norway. The value of the contract exceeds $616.5m.The Norwegian Government had originally announced plans for the construction of three new coast guard vessels in September 2016. Following review of offers from three competing yards, Vard Langsten was selected to continue negotiations in October 2017. The investments were approved by the Norwegian Parliament in the beginning of June 2018…

A new icebreaking research vessel built for the Norwegian governmental body for oceanographic research and fishing, was delivered this week in Norway. After the building process was completed at Fincantieri’s Integrated shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano in Italy, the new vessel, named Kronprins Haakon, sailed to the Vard Langsten shipyard in Norway for final tests and preparation for delivery to the Institute of Marine Research (IMR). The 9,000-gross-ton icebreaker is more than 100 meters long, 21 wide and can reach speeds up to 15 knots. She is able to move independently through ice up to one meter thick. She is built to ensure minimum environmental impact and reduced underwater noise, so as to allow studies on fish and marine mammals.

The next stage of construction for the second of the two new expedition ships for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has been set in motion with a keel laying ceremony for the HANSEATIC inspiration held on October 18, 2017, in the Romanian port of Tulcea. The cruise line’s CEO, Karl J. Pojer, laid a specially produced coin in the first steel block of what will become the ship’s hull. As with its sister ship, the HANSEATIC nature, the coin was welded into the block and will bring the new vessel good fortune on all future expeditions. The keel laying of the HANSEATIC inspiration at the Vard shipyard in Romania will be followed by more milestones, such as the float-out of the hull and the completion of the external construction work.

Ship designer and builder Vard Holdings Limited announced that it has been invited to continue negotiations for the construction of three new vessels for the Norwegian Coast Guard. The Norwegian Government had originally announced plans for the construction of three new Coast Guard vessels in September 2016. Following review of offers from three competing yards, Vard Langsten has now been selected to continue negotiations. If the negotiations are successful, according to the Government’s timetable, the project shall be tabled for approval by the Norwegian Parliament in 2018. Delivery of the first vessel would be in 2022.

June 20, 2017 began the next construction stage for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ first newbuild expedition cruise vessel, HANSEATIC nature. During a keel laying ceremony at the VARD shipyard in Tulcea, Romania, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises CEO, Karl J. Pojer, placed a coin inside the steel block; the coin was welded into the block and will accompany the ship on all its future cruises. HANSEATIC nature‘s keel consists of two steel blocks: each block is 9 meters long, 11 meters wide, 1,5 meters high and weighs 33 tons.

The first steel cut on May 9, 2017 at the VARD shipyard in Tulcea, Romania marks the official start of the construction of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ first of two new-build expedition ships. In an official ceremony Karl J. Pojer, CEO of the luxury cruise operator, gave the official start signal for the construction process of HANSEATIC nature, and Roger Vassdal, Senior Vice President for VARD’s operations in Romania, handed over a symbolic steel silhouette of HANSEATIC nature to the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ board of directors.

Vard Holdings Limited said it has secured a contract to build a pelagic trawler for Research Fishing Company, based on Shetland. The contract value is approximately NOK 350 million (roughly $41.4 million USD). In close cooperation with the ship owner, the vessel is designed by Skipsteknisk in Ålesund, Norway. It will also be built, equipped and completed in Norway. Delivery is scheduled from Vard Langsten in 3Q 2018. The 80-meter-long pelagic trawler will be equipped with entirely electrically powered winches to reduce oil spills and pollutions…

Vard Holdings Limited said it has secured a framework agreement for the maintenance of five Coast Guard vessels for the Norwegian Defense Logistics Organization.  The framework agreement, assigned to Vard Langsten in Norway, includes ship maintenance and corrective maintenance of the Norwegian Coast Guard’s Nornen series of five vessels. The total contract value is approximately NOK 48 million (approximately $5.7 million) over a period of four years, with options for three more years.

Vard Holdings Limited (“VARD”), one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels, is pleased to announce that it has secured contracts for the design and construction of two luxury expedition cruise vessels for German cruise company Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. A Letter of Intent (“LoI”) with respect to the contracts had been announced on 13 May 2016, with reference to an undisclosed international cruise company. Effectiveness of the contracts is still subject to customary financing conditions. Developed by VARD in close cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the vessels are specially designed for cruises in polar regions in the Arctic and Antarctica, but are also prepared for operations in warm water destinations such as the Amazon.

Vard Holdings Limited (“VARD”), one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels, confirmed the contracts for the design and construction of two luxury expedition cruise vessels for TUI Group’s German luxury cruise business Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The contracts had been announced on 26 August 2016, with effectiveness of the contracts still subject to customary financing conditions. All conditions have now been fulfilled and the contracts have become effective. Both vessels are specially designed for cruises in polar regions in the Arctic and Antarctica, but are also prepared for operations in warm water destinations such as the Amazon river. The luxury expedition cruise vessels will be approximately 16,100 gross tons, about 138 meters long and 22 meters wide.

Technip’s latest newbuild, the diving support vessel (DSV) Deep Explorer, was officially named on Saturday, November 12, in Norway. The traditional naming ceremony was held at VARD’s Langsten shipyard. The vessel godmother was Heidi Brovoll-Bø, wife of Knut Bø, President of Technip’s North Sea Canada region. The vessel hull was built by Vard Tulcea shipyard in Romania, and then towed to Vard Langsten in Norway for equipment outfitting and commissioning. The vessel features a state-of-the-art 24-man twin bell saturated dive system rated to 350m.