A heavily damaged platform supply vessel (PSV) is headed for the scrapyard, over objections from previous owner Vroon.

The Dutch offshore specialist said it sold the 3,800-dwt VOS Primrose (built 2016) to an unnamed Singaporean buyer to serve as a crew training vessel.

But the ship is headed for recycling in Bangladesh instead, with Vroon accusing the buyer of breach of contract.

Vroon PSV damaged in Singapore fire
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"Following Lloyds casualty report that the vessel allegedly had been sold by her new owners for recycling Vroon immediately put the new owners on notice for breach of the sales agreement," Vroon said in a statement.

"Any use of the vessel other than as a training platform was neither contemplated nor permitted by the sales agreement negotiated between the parties."

The company added that it "advocates safe and sustainable shipping" and that it "condemns any recycling that does not reflect these core values".

The VOS Primrose was hit by a major engine room fire in May while it was docked at an ST Engineering yard. It took firefighters over 20 hours to extinguish the blaze.

There were no injuries, nor was there any pollution, but the damage was described as substantial and the vessel deemed not worthy of the cost of repair.

Vroon told TradeWinds at the time of the fire that the vessel was on hire to a new client that was mobilising it and installing equipment on deck.

Some broking reports this week indicated that Vroon has sold an identical PSV, the 3,800-dwt VOS Principle (built 2016) for recycling in Bangladesh, but TradeWinds understands that this is merely a misidentification of the VOS Primrose on the part of brokers. The VOS Principle is operating in Mozambican waters and Vroon has no plans to sell the ship.

The VOS Primrose is one of three offshore vessels that are reported to have been sold for recycling.

Indian shipbreakers are said to have acquired the 2,000-dwt pipe carrier ASD Jaguar (built 1975) from All Seas Gold Services and the 68-bhp offshore tug Al Haml (built 1983) from Whitesea Shipping & Supply. Both companies are based in the United Arab Emirates.