Havyard OSV Delivered, Christened in Iceland

‘Polarsyssel’, a Havyard 832 L WE designed offshore supply vessel has been delivered from Havyard Ship Technology’s yard in Leirvik in Sogn to the Icelandic shipping company Fafnir Offshore. A long-term contract has been secured for the vessel, under which she will operate six months a year for the Governor of Svalbard for a period of six years.

On her voyage from Tromsø to Longyearbyen, ‘Polarsyssel’ encountered both high seas and storm force winds, which put her seaworthiness to the test. Captain Kjetil Enoksen was full of praise after having put the ship to the test in the Barents Sea. ‘We experienced heavy weather during most of the passage’ the Captain said.

"The wind blew high from the west during most of our journey and, on approaching Svalbard, we ran into a full storm. A supply vessel of this type will normally roll heavily when hit by waves from the side, but Polarsyssel behaved in an exemplary manner, was course stabile and made us feel comfortable with low noise and vibrations. Even when heading straight into the storm, she rose to the challenge and we hardly felt any slamming. I have never experienced anything like this ship and I look forward to operating this vessel in the time ahead," said the captain, smiling very happily.

Polarsyssel is the first vessel of the Havyard 832 L WE (Wave Edition) design. Havyard Design & Solutions has developed the design with a view to saving fuel and safety and comfort for the crew in both fair and unfavourable weather. The combination of a streamlined underbody with twin skegs (two stern keels) and a foreship with an above-water profile that emphasises minimising the angle of attack of large waves has now proved its excellence in practice.

Distinguished guests
In addition to representatives of the Governor of Svalbard, the shipping company, operator and yard, the naming ceremony was attended by banking and brokerage partners, oil companies and others. The Government was represented by the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Anders Anundsen.

Inger Aarvaag Stokke from the Polar institute of the Justice and Public Scurity department, and formerly employed at the Governor of Svalbard’s office, was godmother for ‘Polarsyssel’. True to tradition, Stokke wished the vessel and crew good luck on all the world’s oceans and broke a bottle of champagne against the hull.

Key data for Havyard 832 L WE 'Polarsyssel'
Length:         88.5 m
Breadth:       17.6 m
Speed:         14.5 knots
Deck area:    850 sq. m
Cabin capacity:     30 persons
Deadweight:          3,700 tonnes

Captain Kjetil Enoksen and ship's godmother Inger Aarvaag Stokke onboard “Polarsyssel”