Aberdeen-based Fletcher Group has purchased two platform supply ships for £4.9million in anticipation of a “rising market” in the North Sea.
The addition of the FS Crathes and FS Carrick brings Fletcher’s fleet size to 15, with the original 13 all on North Sea contracts.
Work is yet to be found for the new ships, however Fletcher is “confident” that contracts will be found in the coming months.
Managing director Keith Fletcher said: “It’s in anticipation of a rising market. The vessels are being mobilised. They are now British flagged and all of the vessels are working in the North Sea market.
“The last two, we don’t have contracts for them but we’re confident that we will find work for them in the coming months.
“We’re seeing contracts for rigs and for drilling and as soon as you get that, you need ships to support them.
“I don’t know how long that will continue through the winter months but we expect more activity in 2019 and 2020.”
The vessels were purchased from Northern Marine in Norway.
They were both built and designed in the country and are approximately eight years old, according to the firm.
Fletcher Group is a commercial and technical vessel manager, which restructured from FS Shipping which went into administration in 2017.
FS Shipping itself was a company formed to buy Fletcher Shipping, which also went into administration as a result of the oil and gas downturn.
Fletcher Group now employs over 300 people offshore and onshore, with 15 of those at a new corporate office in Dundee.
Mr Fletcher said it has been difficult since the oil price crash.
He added: “It’s been one hell of a journey the last three years, the market fell off a cliff.
“We survived that downturn and we’re in a very strong position now to take advantage of a rising market.
“I think we have emerged as a more resilient company.”
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