Maersk Supply Service Orders Two Offshore Vessels from Chilean Shipyard

Maersk Supply Service has signed a contract with Chilean shipyard Asenav for two innovative new offshore vessels with an option for – up to – four additional vessels.

The project value for the two vessels is close to USD 200 million. The vessels will replace existing vessels operating in the Canadian offshore market.

“We are very pleased with this order for new vessels which as far as working environment for the crew onboard and a green operational profile will be a substantial improvement from today’s standards,” says CEO of Maersk Supply Service, Carsten Plougmann Andersen.

The vessels will be suitable for a range of services to the offshore industry including iceberg management, anchor handling, standby, general support of drilling rigs and other offshore installations supplying essential supplies – like fuel, water, equipment, drilling mud and other materials required for drilling operations.

“These vessels will set a new standard for emission levels, operational efficiency and uptime in the offshore industry because of many new design features,” Plougmann says.

The order is part of Maersk Supply Service’s planned investment programme which continues to focus on deepwater and harsh environment areas.

25% energy reduction

The two vessels have been designed to fit with the operational profile of the vessels working offshore East Canada. That means the hull has been designed to fit with the speed and work patterns in the ultra harsh environment.

Unlike conventional supply vessels, all machinery is optimised for low energy consumption. Main and side propellers only rotate when needed. Furthermore, ventilation of the engine room, cooling water to the engine and other systems are now being applied more intelligently to match with the needs of the crew and the engines.

In total, the new features are expected to reduce energy consumption on the vessels by up to 25%.

The vessels have been designed in collaboration with Maersk Maritime Technology and Wartsila Ship design, and will have a bollard pull of 150 tonnes.

The vessels are expected to be delivered in February 2014 and January of 2015, respectively.

Maersk Supply Service has a strong position in the Canadian offshore market and is currently operating nine vessels for a number of customers in the area with base port in St John’s, Newfoundland.

Maersk Supply Service serves the offshore industry worldwide with 67 vessels manned by approximately 2000 crew and supported by around 250 onshore staff worldwide represented in all main deepwater regions. The fleet includes craned offshore support vessels, anchor handling tug supply vessels, platform supply vessels and sub sea support vessels.

Maersk Supply Service is part of the A.P. Moller ‐ Maersk Group and had revenue of USD 772 million in 2010.

Investments in Chile

This contract with Asenav further cements the relationship between the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group and Chile. In November 2011, Maersk Container Industry announced the construction of a USD 170 million container factory in Chile.