Norway:Ulstein Verft. Delivers Norman Ranger to Solstad Offshore

Normand Ranger for Solstad Offshore is delivered from Ulstein Verft. Completion of the anchor handling vessel has been a challenging task but the shipyard delivers the project to the agreed terms within time.

Ulstein Verft won the contract with GIEK and Sparebank 1 SR-Bank for completion of the anchor handling vessel last spring. The ship came to Ulstein Verft from the bankrupt shipyard Karmsund Maritime Service in August 2009.

”We are very satisfied with the completion of Normand Ranger. The project has fulfilled our expectations when delivered from Ulstein Verft today, says Solstad Offshore shipowner Lars Peder Solstad.

“It is challenging to take over a half produced vessel. We had to get a complete picture of everything that had been done, and whether it had been done correctly in relation to the regulations. Furthermore, we had to provide an overview of which suppliers were still a part of the project. Interaction between engineering, procurement, planning and production has been very important. We have an organisation that has the necessary expertise and experience to handle such challenges,” says a proud managing director of Ulstein Verft Karsten Sævik.

Normand Ranger type VS 490 AHTS from Wärtsilä Ship Design. It is 91 metres long, 22 metres wide, has an interior for 58 persons and has deadweight of about 4500 tonnes.

“Normand Ranger is ready for the spot market in the North Sea, and we are pleased to see that this market is recovering from a downturn,” says Lars Peder Solstad.

Normand Ranger is a powerful anchor handling vessel with a bollard pull of 287 tonnes. The vessel is equipped with a Triplex MHD (Multi Deck Handler) and Odim ARF (Anchor Recovery Frame) for safe anchor handling operations on deck.

Solstad Offshore has been an important customer for Ulstein for a number of years. Ulstein and Solstad have collaborated on several prestigious projects earlier such as the construction of Normand Installer and Normand Seven. Normand Seven won the prestigious award Ship of the Year in 2007. Ulstein Verft has built 17 vessels for this ship owner, the first anchor handling vessel, Normand Drott, was delivered in 1984.

The Ulstein Group is a group of companies that focus on various marine-related industries, but is mainly known for its ship building and ship design activities. The largest unit is Ulstein Verft AS, a shipyard delivering from 3 to 5 offshore supply ships a year. The most recent delivery is hull no. 290, the Normand Ranger. The ship design unit, Ulstein Design & Solutions came up with the X-BOW design that in the shape of Bourbon Orca delivered in 2006 won the Ship of The Year Award by Skipsrevyen. The group also includes companies working with electrical and electronics solutions and most recently in shipping.

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ulsteingroup, May 5, 2010;