The owner of the Danish offshore vessel Maersk Supply Service said on Wednesday he would change the flag of one of its anchor handling vessels to the Norwegian flag, hire a Norwegian crew and open an office in Bergen. The plan is to have its first vessel ready for operation in Norwegian waters during the summer of 2021, the company said.

“With a strong focus on towing and installing floating units for the offshore wind and oil and gas industry, Maersk Supply Service sees a clear link between its core capabilities and the needs of the Norwegian market. . In addition, the company’s ambition to decarbonize its fleet matches the ambition of the main Norwegian players, ”said Maersk Supply Service.

Equinor, Norway’s largest oil company, for example, has added requirements to its long-term contracts requiring supply vessels to run on hybrid batteries and be prepared for shore power.

Duncan MacPherson, new Managing Director in Norway for Maersk Supply Service, said: “Norway is a pioneer when it comes to exploring new ways to reduce the environmental footprint of the offshore energy industry. Our anchor handlers are among the most modern and energy efficient. ships around the world. Therefore, we are convinced that they are a perfect fit for the Norwegian market. ”

“Our ambition is to be carbon neutral by 2050 and to have reduced our carbon intensity by 50% by 2030. We have already taken firm steps to improve our energy efficiency with behavioral changes and upgrades techniques.

“Our goal is to have several vessels operating in Norway – both in the oil and gas industry and in floating wind. Over the past five years, we have built a solid track record of solutions capabilities combining our versatile fleet with comprehensive project management of offshore projects. Being able to offer complete solutions puts Maersk Supply Service in a unique position when it comes to planning and delivering complex offshore projects safely and efficiently, ”says MacPherson.

Offshore Engineer contacted Maersk Supply Service to find out which vessel exactly would be deployed for the first time in Norway.

“We expect it to be Maersk Minder,” a Maersk Supply Service spokesperson said.

According to the vessel’s specification sheet, Maersk Minder is a SALT-designed DP2 Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessel, built for deep-water anchor handling and oilfield operations.

“Powered by five mid-speed engines with a total output of over 23,000 horsepower, a flexible and fuel-efficient hybrid propulsion system and a fixed pitch on all side thrusters, the vessel offers good fuel economy, low emissions and excellent station keeping capabilities (ERN 4 x 99) “, states the ship description of the MSS.