Norway: Bergan Group Wins Contract for Advanced Offshore Vessel

Bergen Group Fosen has signed a contract with Volstad Maritime AS to build a large high end offshore vessel. The contract has an estimated value of NOK 725 million, and the ship is scheduled for delivery in 2(nd) quarter 2012.

The signed contract is subject to final board approval and financing, which is expected to be clarified in February 2011. The contract also includes an option for building a similar offshore vessel for delivery in 2013. The option is valid until end of 1st quarter 2011.

Since 2005, Volstad Maritime AS has ordered all of their newbuildings at Bergen Group Fosen. The shipping company has during this period taken delivery of a total of five very advanced offshore vessels from the shipyard. The new contract is for construction of a large and advanced OCV (Offshore Construction Vessel) with a length of 125 meters and a beam of 25 meters. The ship will fulfill the Clean Design-requirements for an environmentally optimized operation, and has 1A Ice-classing. The ship is a ST-259 CD design from Skipsteknisk in Ålesund.

“The contract with Volstad Maritime AS is an important confirmation of Bergen Group’s strong and increased position in building the most advanced offshore vessels to a demanding international market. In addition, this contract proves that our customers are very satisfied with both the project performance and the quality of the ships delivered over the years”, says CEO Pål Engebretsen in Bergen Group.

Bergen Group has over the last four years delivered a total of 15 advanced offshore vessels to different customers both nationally and internationally.

CEO Arnar Utseth at Bergen Group Fosen is looking forward to start the building process of the sixth offshore ship to Volstad Maritime AS.

“This company is a demanding customer with high focus on using available new technology to ensure a top modern, functional, environmentally friendly and future-oriented ship. This suits our company and our skills very well. We have an very experienced organization optimized for building such state of the art- vessels”, says Arnar Utseth.

The contract with Volstad Maritime AS will generate engineering and planning activities at the shipyard from January 2011. The hull is scheduled to arrive at Fosen in Q4 2011/Q1 2012, and the outfitting work will be completed during the second quarter of 2012.

Volstad Maritime AS is a privately owned Norwegian offshore shipping company headquartered in Ålesund. The company is well established in the international market with a modern fleet of advanced offshore vessels.

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Source: Bergen Group, December 28, 2010