Borealis Maritime is the buyer of two anchor-handling tug supply ships sold off by K Line Offshore as it exits the sector.
The UK shipowner's Norwegian offshore vessel arm, Aurora Offshore, said that it will operate the 34,000-bhp KL Sandefjord and KL Saltfjord (both built 2011) after the parent acquired them in December.
K Line Offshore, controlled by giant Japanese owner K Line, is being liquidated in Norway following years of losses.
Aurora Offshore, based in Kristiansand, said delivery of the two AHTS ships will likely take place in February.
The vessels will continue under the Norwegian flag and will remain with OSM in Arendal for technical and crew management "as we aim to maintain the current high competence and standard on board the vessels", Aurora added.
"During an initial handover period following the vessels' delivery, Aurora Offshore will cooperate with K Line Offshore for a period of time to assure a smooth transition of responsibilities," the company said.
Expanding fleet
The ships are diesel-electric with a bollard pull of around 395 tonnes each.
They are two of the world's largest, best-established AHTS vessels operating in the North Sea market today, the company said.
"We therefore very much look forward to welcoming the vessels to our expanding fleet and providing our clients with some of the very best vessels available in the marketplace," Aurora added.
Aurora was set up in February 2021 and is listed as managing seven platform supply vessels.
VesselsValue assesses the AHTS duo as worth about $56m combined.
K Line Offshore's four PSVs were acquired by Rem Offshore of Norway.
Borealis is better known as an owner of container ships, tankers and LPG carriers.
Last summer, the group recruited offshore veteran Steve Brackenridge as Aurora CEO to build up the commercially operated offshore fleet and reactivate its laid-up vessels.
The company was established as a partnership between Brackenridge's own one-man company and London-based Borealis.
