UK: GEOSHIPS Presents Its Second MPSV, Loch Roag

SeaHold GEOSHIPS Ltd, a marine and subsea services shipping company, held an open day on board the newest addition to its vessel fleet (25 April).

Formed in 2003, the Aberdeen-based company took delivery of Loch Roag, its second multi purpose support vessel (MPSV), earlier this month on a contract valued at over £30 million.

Around 60 invited guests attended the open day on board the vessel at Aberdeen Harbour and were given the opportunity to tour Loch Roag and learn about the potential oil and gas and renewables operations which it could support.

GEOSHIPS will manage and crew the vessel, which it has taken on a five year fixed bareboat charter basis from Singapore based Otto Marine Ltd with an option to extend the contract for two more years. As part of the bareboat charter for Loch Roag, GEOSHIPS has the option to buy the vessel at various stages during the agreement. It is a Norwegian design, Marin Teknikk (MT) 6009L MKII Vessel, built by Otto Marine Ltd in their Indonesian Shipyard Batamec.

The vessel can accommodate 66 people in one and two man berths. It measures 80 metres, has a deck space of approximately 510 square metres and the dead weight is 2800 tonne.

GEOSHIPS’ in-house vessel crewing and management capability, Brooklyn Shipping Limited, will operate and manage the vessel, giving a higher level of control over each project.

 Kenny Macleod, chairman, SeaHold GEOSHIPS, said: “It was good to have the opportunity to invite guests onto our newest vessel while it was docked in Aberdeen. Loch Roag is a very impressive vessel and attendees were able to meet the GEOSHIPS team and learn about the vessel’s workscope potential. The vessel has been tendered for several jobs in the North Sea although it is also suitable for work in a variety of areas, including Mediterranean, West Africa and Asia Pacific. It is likely the vessel will be used extensively for inspection, repair and maintenance activities using a work class ROV and/or an eyeball ROV.”

Taking charge of this vessel follows on from GEOSHIPS securing a 36-month contract in March 2011 to offer the multi-purpose offshore vessel, the Stril Explorer, to the market.

Built for diving and ROV work, the Stril Explorer has achieved a high level of utilisation in the past year and has completed a wide scope of work for the oil and gas and offshore renewables sector.

In Q1 2013 GEOSHIPS will expand its fleet further, with a new multi purpose offshore vessel of a Vik & Sandvik VS470 design. It is certified to carry 60 people and has an overall length of 76 metres. Further additions to the vessel fleet are also expected this year.

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Offshore WIND staff, April 27, 2012; Image: thinkpr