First Vessel of New Rescue Class Launched

Global shipping and energy services firm, Craig Group, has launched its first F-Class vessel, the Grampian Fortress. The IMT 958 multi-role emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV) was christened in the Balenciaga Shipyard in Northern Spain this week.
 
She is the first of two F-class vessels in the group’s $171 million investment, which has already seen eight vessels delivered to Craig Group in the last two years.
 
At 58 metres long, the Grampian Fortress features diesel electric propulsion via twin Azimuth Stern Drives. It is also equipped with daughter craft and fast rescue craft as well as being able to transfer and store limited deck cargo and provide offshore locations with fresh water and fuel if required.
 
The Grampian Fortress will be joined later in the year by the second F-Class ERRV, the Grampian Freedom.
 
North Star Shipping, which operates Craig Group’s fleet of 37 offshore support, ROV survey, tanker assist, and emergency response and rescue vessels, recently announced it had taken delivery of its eighth and final D-class IMT-950 ERRV, the Grampian Devotion, to be built as part of the current investment. The D-class vessels, which are 50 meters in length, are outfitted with the same rescue and recovery facilities that are found on the latest F-Class vessels.
 
Since 2003, Craig Group has invested a total of $546 million in 26 new vessels for North Star Shipping.