Dutch services provider Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. has added two large diving support vessels (DSVs) to its fleet in an effort to strengthen its subsea services proposition.
With this addition, the existing position in the area of inspection, repair and maintenance of subsea offshore installation, pipelines and cables is strengthened, the company said on Tuesday.
Furthermore, the foundation is laid for an expansion in the area of subsea contracting, installation and SURF (Subsea Umbilicals, Risers & Flowlines) with the aim of further growth in this segment of the offshore energy market in the regions northwest Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Boskalis has reached an agreement with the bondholders of the two former Harkand vessels under which it has acquired the DSV Atlantis for approximately $60 million and has signed a three-year bareboat charter for its sister vessel Da Vinci along with a right of first refusal in the event of a sale. To remind, Harkand entered into administration in May 2016 following losses as a result of a prolonged low oil price environment, leaving about 170 employees without work.
The vessels, which were taken into service in 2011, are equipped with two bells for saturation diving work to a depth of 300 meters and provide accommodation for 120 crew.