Ulstein to build four more ‘Blue’ PSVs

Blue Ship Invest received PSV Blue Fighter from Ulstein in January this year, and has a second PSV on order, which will be delivered in the third quarter of 2012. According to Ulstein group CEO Gunvor Ulstein, Blue Fighter has been working for the Apache oil company, managed on behalf of Ulstein by Remøy Shipping, and Ulstein has received good feedback. This feedback, combined with developments in the PSV market, led to the latest contract

The PX121 is a medium-sized 83.4m long PSV, with 18m beam, cargo deck of 875m2 and capacity of 4,200 dwt. Maximum speed is around 15 knots and the ship offers accommodation for 24 personnel. The design focuses on efficiency and flexibility, with the ability to operate further from the shore in deeper fields. In addition to tanks for oil, water and drilling fluids, the vessel has four stainless steel tanks for flammable liquids. It is DP2-equipped and meets DNV’s Clean Design and ICE-C notations. All four main engines are equipped with SCR plant.

According to Captain Inge Gjelsten of Blue Fighter: “I have worked on board several newbuilds, but Blue Fighter is the best of them by far. A vessel of this type is my preferred choice for the North Sea. Blue Fighter is remarkably efficient and comfortable in all weather conditions. Wind and seas have little impact on the vessel’s performance compared to conventional PSVs. We can compare performance directly when steaming on the same tracks to the oil fields: With the same weather conditions and 3m-5m head sea within 30 of the bow, our ship can easily and comfortably maintain a speed of 12-13 knots, while the other vessels have to reduce their speed to 7-8 knots. The higher speed is a result of the ‘X-Bow effect’. Also, due to the position of the stabilisation tanks on board, Blue Fighter operates extremely well when wind and seas approach from the side.”