North Sea emergency recovery and rescue vessel (ERRV) operator Vroon Offshore Services (VOS) has launched a more than $100million 10-vessel new build programme.
The new “comfort class” boats – six 50m ERRVs and four 60m ERRV field support vessels – will be built in Nanjing and Fujian in China under Vroon’s supervision and sport a new wave-piercing bow-shape, designed in Singapore by the group.
The first of the ERRVs is due to be delivered in April 2013 with the first of the 60m boats is due to arrive in Q1 2014.
Both have full redundancy, daughter and fast rescue craft, have been designed with two winch areas so full deck space can be used for cargo operations – especially on the 60m units, which will have 300sq.m of deck space and about 500cu.m of fuel and water tankage available.
The field suppport/ERRVs will also have DP1 positioning, with scope for DP2 upgrade, which MD Evert Maandag says operators will seek increasingly.
“There is no DP2 market demand yet on ERRV and field support but PSVs (platform supply vessels) now have DP2 and it is only a matter of time until customers expect DP2 on others,” he said.
“The new bow design will also improve fuel efficiency and safe handling in bad weather.”
Maandag, who took over as MD of the business at the start of this year, said fleet growth in the fleet was organic and included replacing older vessels.
“The speed with which we sell off and replace boats will depend on the market.”