GLOBAL shipping and energy service firm Craig Group officially handed over its latest new-build vessel yesterday to Chevron and Britannia Operator.
The Grampian Endurance is the 12th new offshore-support vessel in Aberdeen-based Craig Group’s £130million fleet investment programme.
The £12million emergency-response and rescue vessel arrived in Aberdeen on Monday, to begin a 10-year contract on the Alba and Britannia fields in the North Sea for Chevron and Britannia Operator.
The Grampian Endurance is registered in Aberdeen and has created employment for around 30 seafarers.
Craig Group division North Star managing director Callum Bruce said: “We are very proud to take delivery of the Grampian Endurance; a multi-role vessel with the ability to provide emergency response and rescue for more than one installation as well as having daughter craft, firefighting and tanker-assist capabilities.”
North Star named her Grampian Endurance in honour of Alexander Macklin, the surgeon on board Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary Endurance expedition in the Antarctic in 1914. Mr Macklin was the father of Dick Macklin, a senior marine specialist with Chevron.
Craig Group managing director Douglas Craig said: “In 2001, we took the bold step of speculatively building two multipurpose supply and remotely operated vehicle survey vessels, the Grampian Surveyor and Grampian Explorer, initially for international waters.
“Since then, our confidence in the market and our ability to secure long-term charters for our new-builds has grown and our investment now stands at £130million.
“This investment illustrates our commitment to the offshore sector both at home and internationally.”