Naming ceremony for BP’s new PSVs

BP celebrated the official naming of its two new, purpose-built platform support vessels (‘PSVs’) at a ceremony in Aberdeen on Friday 27 June.

The vessels will be used to support the oil company’s operations west of Shetland.

NS Elida, which has been operating in the Region since January, and NS Iona were both commissioned by BP for an exclusive 15-year bareboat term charter. The NS Iona, which set sail from the Hyundai Mipo Dockland in Ulsan, South Korea, in late April and arrived in Aberdeen early June, will enter service this week

At the Aberdeen harbour ceremony the vessels were officially christened with good luck bestowed upon them and all who sails on them.

Mark Hardie, BP’s UK Logistics and Infrastructure Manager said: “The delivery of these two vessels completes our long term marine strategy. The PSVs – together with other redeployed vessels – will be used west of Shetland to support cargo delivery, rescue and recovery operations, oil spill response and collision risk management in the area. The capability and flexibility these vessels offer, which is not currently available from the market, is a critical component of our wider marine strategy.”
The vessels, which will be based and maintained in Aberdeen, will also bring a number of business and local benefits to the UK and Norway, with nearly 80% of the total project and operating costs being spent there. The operating and maintenance work will be locally supplied, and officers and crew will be UK and Norwegian qualified mariners.
Both vessels also have special tanks to transport chemicals required for the planned enhanced oil recovery (EOR) schemes at Schiehallion and Clair.

Trevor Garlick, Regional President for BP’s North Sea business said: “Our long term commitment to the region gives us the confidence to make major investments in vital support services. These new vessels provide us with a number of safety and commercial benefits, but also allow for the greater deployment of technology, improving our capability to recover more oil from our reservoirs – which is crucial to the future of the North Sea.”