Vestdavit Secures Besiktas Seismic Chase Boat Davit Orders

Norway-based boat handling system and specialized davit supplier Vestdavit was contracted to supply work boat and man overboard davits for four specially designed chase vessels which will support Norwegian seismic major PGS’ fleet of seismic ships.

The ships are to be built at Turkey’s Besiktas Gemi Insa A. S.  yard for Faroe Island shipowner P/F Thor, which has chartered the vessels to PGS.

Vestdavit Area Sales Manager Sven Arild Wågsæther said, “The workboat davit for each vessel will be our PLR-15000 davit with a SWL of 15 tons. These are the largest single-point lifting davits we have designed. We see seismic work boats becoming larger and larger, and operators need a simple but robust and reliable davit which will launch and recover heavy workboats safely in tough conditions, day in and day out. This davit will consistently and safely handle a loaded workboat in sea states up to  4 / 5, and is both easy to maintain and simple to operate.”

Thor’s 64 m chase vessels will be delivered beginning 2014 and enter service to assist PGS operations worldwide. Key tasks are operational support, offshore bunkering, crew change assistance, replenishment of provisions and spare parts and maintenance of seismic equipment while at sea. Support capabilities include Ice Class 1A, passenger capacity for transporting a full seismic crew, extra work boat, towing, and fuel and fluid transfers.

In addition to the PLR-15000 davit each vessel will also be equipped with a Vestdavit PLR-7000 davit for man overboard boat handling.