PHOTO: Maersk Supply Service launches Starfish AHTS vessel

Maersk Supply Service has launched its first of six Starfish anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels at the Kleven Verft shipyard in Norway.

The Danish offshore vessel provider posted a picture on social media on Monday showing the 23,065bhp AHTS being launched into the water. According to the company, the vessel was launched on Friday, June 10.

This is the first of six newbuild Starfish anchor handlers being built for Maersk Supply Service. Delivery of the first two vessels is expected to be in the fourth quarter of 2016 while the remaining four will be delivered during 2017.

Modules for the first Starfish were towed to the Kleven Yard in Norway from Poland via an Ugland barge towed by Svitzer tug „Frigga“ in April.

Maersk Supply Service said that the newbuild Starfish AHTS has ‘state-of-the-art’ equipment aboard and a bollard pull of more than 230 tons and towing drums designed for 500 tonnes of pull force. Specs claim that the vessel has a 4,600 tonnes of deadweight capacity, and a deck capacity of 2,500 tonnes.

The DP 2 vessel is 95 meters long, 25 meters wide and has an ROV garage for one ROV Launch and Recovery System (LARS) with a built-in ROV control room. It can accommodate 52 persons.

Offshore Energy Today Staff