Strategic Marine, a leading specialist shipbuilder in Asia, announced that Njord Offshore, UK fleet operator of Crew Transfer Vessels for the growing European offshore windfarm sector, has officially confirmed the option for two more high performance crew transfer and service vessels, taking the total order to eight vessels.
Tom Mehew of Njord Offshore said: “The details of the design combined with the excellent build quality of our 21m Crew Transfer Vessels has been fantastically received by all our crew and Charterers. We are delighted to be ordering more vessels with Strategic Marine.”
So far, Strategic has delivered six vessels to Njord Offshore. The first, Njord Advocet, completed her maiden charter on the Greater Gabbard Windfarm for SSE and will join her sister Vessels off the European Mainland off Germany. The Njord Kittiwake is now working off Denmark and the Njord Curlew and Lapwing off Germany. The Njord Puffin and Petrel were delivered last month at Strategic’s shipyard in Singapore and have just arrived in Europe. The Njord Puffin will go straight onto charter in Germany, whilst the Njord Petrel is still currently available for charter.
All the Njord vessels are designed by BMT to DNV and MCA flag regulations, ensuring the vessels can operate without restriction anywhere off the European mainland.
“We understand the performance of the vessels has exceeded expectations, demonstrating market-leading fuel economy,” said BMT’s Technical Director, Ed Dudson. “The quality of vessels built by Strategic Marine to our design is of the highest standard.”
The two new sister vessels ordered will be certified for MCA CAT 1 requirements for operation up to (150nm) from CAT 2 due to the distance from shore the vessels are being required to work at. The vessels will also be given increased fuel tank capacity from 10,000L to 18,000L for greater range and bunkering capability.
Separately, Strategic’s shipyards in both Singapore and Vietnam are busy with a number of projects including 18 x 40+m Crewboats, 2 x 45m ROPAX Ferries for the National Ferries Company in Oman, and an Offshore Support Vessel for the Australian Customs.
“We are full steam ahead on newbuild projects,” said Strategic’s Executive Director, Ron Anderson , “and we are driving forward our ‘off the shelf’ inventory of in-demand vessels to reduce client waiting times.”
[mappress]
Press release, August 1, 2013; Image: ngal