STX Brazil Offshore books AHTS order

DOF ASA has placed a contract with STX Brazil Offshore for the building of two Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels for its Brazilian subsidiary Norskan Offshore. They are scheduled for delivery from the Niteroi shipyard in 2012 and 2013.

The vessels are the first of the new AH 11 design from STX Norway Offshore Design in Ålesund, designed with special focus on deep water operations. They will have a length overall of approximately 93 m and a molded breadth of approximately 22 m.

Norskan Offshore has been awarded four eight-year contracts with Petrobras for large AHTS vessels. Two of the charter contracts are for vessels under construction of AH 12 design, and two of the contracts are based on the new AH 11 design.

STX Norway Offshore President Roy Reite said: "Since we established our operation in Brazil, we have built and signed contracts for more than forty vessels dedicated for the Brazilian market. We appreciate that our client Norskan again obtains charter parties with Petrobras based on our innovative designs."