Atlantic Offshore’s contract for the multipurpose anchor handling, tug, supply (AHTS) vessel, the Ocean King, with Norwegian oil major Statoil has expired.
Atlantic said on Monday that the vessel has been laid up as of August 26.
This marks the end of a cooperation lasting a full three decades between Statoil and the Ocean King which has worked for the company since 1986.
The last two extension options for the vessel were used in May 2015 until January 2016 and from January to July 2, 2016. Statoil had another 1×12 months option left but chose not to use it. Apart from being an AHTS vessel, Statoil has used the Ocean King as an Emergency Response and Rescue Vessel /(ERRV) as well.
The vessel, formerly known as Viking Queen, was built in 1984 at Hellesøy Th Skibsbyggeri. In 2006, the vessel was purchased by Ocean LanHoy KS and renamed to Ocean King. It is operated by Atlantic Offshore Management AS.
The vessel is 75 meters long with a gross tonnage of 2,295 tons. The vessel, which can accommodate 43 persons, has four main engines with 2,310 kW of power each and a pair of bow thrusters with a 1,000 BHP each.
Offshore Energy Today Staff