New ERRV joins Sentinel Marine fleet

Scottish offshore support vessel provider Sentinel Marine has taken delivery of a new multi-role emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV).

Sentinel said on Thursday that the vessel, named Biscay Sentinel, was the seventh such vessel in the company’s fleet with a further two under construction and due to enter service later this year.

Biscay Sentinel was delivered at the Cosco Guangzhou shipyard in China this month and is expected to arrive in Aberdeen in early May.

The company added that the vessel would immediately join Sentinel’s fleet of ERRVs operating in the North Sea providing services to the oil and gas industry.

“Rather than retrofitting existing vessels, we have invested significantly in creating a unique fleet of custom-built ERRVs, ensuring they are kitted out with the latest onboard technologies and crew facilities,” Sentinel said.

According to the company, the multi-role ERRVs in its fleet can take on multiple roles while at sea. Apart from its primary role of protecting and saving lives, the vessels can be used for a range of secondary tasks, ranging from cargo storage to oil recovery.

Rory Deans, CEO of Sentinel, said: “The offshore environment can be unpredictable, and so safety is of the utmost importance to operators working at sea. We are delighted to be adding Biscay Sentinel to our fleet to ensure that we continue to offer our clients an unparalleled service, backed up by the latest technology available.

“Many ERRVs in operation are repurposed fishing or supply vessels, however by designing our fleet from the ground up, we have been able to ensure that it is fully equipped with everything our crews require to keep our clients safe offshore.

“Multi-role vessels like Biscay Sentinel provide a greater flexibility for our clients […] they can also be used across a range of other tasks, including rescue towing and dynamic positioning.”

The Biscay Sentinel is 62 meters in length, 15.5 meters wide, can accommodate 26 people, and has a 26-bed recovery area along with a 75-seat recovery area.