Arctic support vessel for US yard

Edison Chouest Offshore has signed a $150m contract with Royal Dutch Shell to build an arctic support vessel. The US offshore vessel builder and owner also will operate the 110m vessel to support drilling rigs on Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf.

Louisiana-based Chouest will build the ice-class unit at its LaShip yard under construction in Houma or at its TampaShip yard in Florida. A decision is expected by the end of the year. The unit will add to Chouest’s offshore vessel fleet that totals over 180 units, according to Clarkson Research data.