Aberdeen-based OSV operator Sentinel Marine has announced it is investing £36M (US$46M) in three newbuild multirole emergency response and rescue vessels (ERRVs).
Designed by Singapore-based Khiam Chuan Marine (KCM), Cromarty Sentinel, Trafalgar Sentinel and Viking Sentinel will be built by China's Fujian Southeast Shipyard and delivered by the end of 2020.
The trio of OSVs will be an enhanced version of the KCM-designed ERRVs that Sentinel Marine has been operating in the North Sea over the past four years. They will all feature increased dynamic positioning (DP) capabilities with a notation of DP2, a firefighting class of 1, oil recovery, liquid mud and dry bulk capacities.
Their primary role will be ensuring offshore personnel safety, but they are also able to carry out oil recovery, rescue towing and DP duties. When the three multi-role vessels enter service, 80 new jobs will be created.
Sentinel Marine chief executive Rory Deans said “The three newbuild multi-role ERRVs will be delivered throughout 2020 and will create employment for another 80 seafarers, bringing our total workforce to around 400 on and offshore.
“This is a speculative investment by Sentinel Marine, based on the significant demand there has been for our fleet of high-specification custom-build vessels which we have introduced on a rolling programme since 2015.
“There has been an increase in activity in the North Sea over the past 12 months, and there is certainly a market for vessels of this standard.
“The multi-role nature of the ships, together with the technology on board, age and efficiency, offer an attractive proposition to operators and have been very well received.”
Sentinel is expecting to take delivery of the final vessel in a previous nine-ship order placed in 2015, Malin Sentinel, in April this year.
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