Topaz Marine recently confirmed the acquisition of the Multipurpose Support Vessel (MPSV) Ocean Commander in Singapore. The vessel has been renamed Topaz Commander and joins Topaz Marines’ fleet of around 100 vessels, reinforcing Topaz’s position as one of the top ten largest offshore vessel operations in the world.
Built in 1999 in Myklebust Norway as a 84 metre UT 745 Platform Supply Vessel (PSV), the addition of a 50t knuckle boom crane makes the Topaz Commander a highly competent MPSV. She is classed as a DP2 vessel and features twin thrusters aft, a tunnel thruster and drop azimuth forward. At 4,263 DWT and 840m² of clear deck space, Topaz Commander is among the largest vessels in Topaz’s fleet.
Topaz Commander will immediately commence work under a contract with ADAMS Offshore Services Limited in Vietnam. The vessel acquisition was financed in part through a term-loan facility with Standard Chartered Bank.
The acquisition of the Topaz Commander signals Topaz’s continued commitment to its fleet expansion programme. In addition to the Topaz Commander, more than 10 new-build vessels will join the Topaz fleet during 2010, among them four anchor-handling tug supply vessels (AHTSV) with dual bow-thrusters custom built for the Saudi Arabian market.
About Topaz Energy and Marine
Topaz Energy and Marine is today one of the world’s leading marine services and energy engineering companies, with over 35 years of experience in the Middle East. Topaz is a wholly owned subsidiary of Renaissance Services SAOG, a publicly traded company on the Muscat Securities Market. Operating throughout the Middle East and the Caspian, with vessel operations in North Africa and S.E. Asia, Topaz employs over 5,200 people. With its operational headquarters in Dubai, UAE, Topaz operates under two primary business divisions – Topaz Marine and Topaz Engineering. Topaz Marine; the offshore support vessels division comprises Nico Middle East, Doha Marine Services, Topaz Saudi Arabia, BUE Caspian, BUE Kazakhstan & BUE Turkmenistan. Topaz Engineering comprises Adyard (Abu Dhabi), Nico Craft and Nico International.
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Source: Topazworld, July 5, 2010;