Triple Christening for Vroon Offshore Services Vessels
February 12th 2008
Vroon Offshore Services Ltd today marked the latest milestone in its multi-million pound investment programme – with the formal naming of three vessels in a ceremony at Aberdeen Harbour.
The company formally welcomed the field support vessels VOS Innovator and VOS Inspirer, as well as platform supply vessel Rig Express, into its 94-strong offshore fleet.
The naming ceremony for the vessels, all introduced into the fleet in recent months, was performed by the Vroon Group Board Members, before a gathering of staff and customers at Jamiesons Quay.
Vroon Group Managing Director, Mr Coco Vroon said: “These vessels represent the latest additions to the fleet in a £175 million (Euro 240 million) new-build programme featuring 23 vessels in total, across our range of offshore support services.
“They underline our determination to remain a key player in the North Sea market in the long term – and to provide a modern fleet, complete with enhanced capabilities, as part of that commitment.”
Captain Ray Shaw, Aberdeen Harbour Board’s Director of Operations and Harbour Master, said: “While the port’s role as the centre of activity for offshore industry marine support in the North Sea means it is regularly the location for the naming and introduction of new vessels, this is the first time that three have been named on the same occasion. We welcome this latest expansion of Vroon’s fleet as another sign of confidence in the industry’s future.”
The Innovator and Inspirer represented deliveries three and four in a 13-strong order placed with the Astilleros Zamakona shipyard in Spain for IMT 955L field support vessels. The 75-metre Rig Express was built in 2007 at Zhenjiang, China.
VOS currently operates about 100 vessels from bases in Aberdeen, Scotland; Den Helder, The Netherlands; Singapore and Genoa in Italy.
Its fleet includes conventional and multi-role ERRVS, platform supply, anchor handling, dive support and utility vessels, operating principally in the North Sea and the Mediterranean.