Norway: DOF Installer ASA Christens New AHTS Vessel

DOF Installer ASA christened the latest addition to a new generation of high powered anchor handling vessels built to match the challenges of deepwater mooring and field installation operations.

Skandi Skansen, the company’s fourth Installer Vessel was officially named at a ceremony held on the 2 July 2011, in Bergen at the Skoltegrunnskaien. The ship, decorated for the occasion, cut a spectacular sight in the harbour, surrounded by Bergen’s beautiful mountain ‘backdrop’.

Mr. Knut Ola Tverdal, Senior Vice President Offshore & Specialized Vessels, STX OSV Norway Aukra, opened the ceremony by welcoming the naming party and other guests to the naming and blessing of newbuilding no. 723 from STX OSV Aukra.

At the heart of the naming party, The Godmother, Emma McNeill (wife of Mr. Stephen McNeill – Vice President –UK from Subsea 7) was joined by Mr. Mons S. Aase – CEO, DOF ASA; Mr. Knut Ola Tverdal, Snr VP, Offshore & Specialized Vessels, STX Norway Aukra; Captain Harald Viddal and Father Ole Dagfinn Sky; business partners from Subsea 7; the Shipyard STX, DOF employees and other special invited guests from around the world.

Godmother Emma McNeill continued the tradition and performed the official naming and blessed the vessel. Father Ole Dagfinn Sky also conducted a blessing of the ship. To complete the ceremony, Godmother Mrs McNeill successfully broke a bottle of champagne against the ship’s hull to the applause of the crowd and named the ship the Skandi Skansen. After the ceremony The Bergen Police band marked the occasion by playing the Norwegian national Anthem.

As is tradition, the Captain and Godmother were the first to embark the vessel to inspect the vessel.

Following the ceremony everyone proceeded to SAS Radisson Blue-Hotel Norge, for a celebration dinner.

In his speech Mr Tverdal thanked the workers at the yard for their hard work and expertise in building the ship expressing his conviction that the association between DOF and Aukra would be a long and happy one. The CEO of DOF ASA Mr. Mons S. Aase, thanked both the shipyard and the DOF employees for their excellent contribution and hard work in the building of the vessel – “after all it`s the people that make DOF to what we are today”. Godmother, Emma McNeill, wished the captain and his crew the very best for the future.

 The vessel:

The Skandi Skansen is one of four versatile multipurpose Construction Anchor Handling Vessels in the DOF ASA Fleet, ideally suited to deepwater mooring and field installation operations. Built to meet future environmental standards, the vessel is fuel efficient and clean class, thus having the capability to work in most of the world’s offshore oil & gas precincts. At 107,20 m long, operating capabilities include a working moonpool, a 250 t Offshore Crane, two work class Schilling UHD ROV`s. Low resistance hull shape designed for high speed and low fuel consumption, good sea- and station keeping performances, excellent manoeuvrability, high capacities and good stability.

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Source: DOFsubsea , July 6, 2011.