The continuing recovery in the North Sea platform supply vessel sector has seen another ship brought out of lay-up.

Norway's Golden Energy Offshore Services has reactivated the 4,000-dwt Energy Duchess (built 2009) after 14 months in port after the market was hit by restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The vessel is now working for a "first-class international operator" for a firm period of 40 days, plus options, at prevailing market rates, the owner said.

Golden Energy has three of four vessels in full operation and all have well in excess of 90% utilisation booked in for the second quarter in the improved North Sea spot market, the company added.

Meanwhile, compatriot Eidesvik Offshore has been awarded a time charter by Aker BP for the 4,800-dwt PSV Viking Prince (built 2009).

The contract comes under Eidesvik's frame agreement with Aker for a drilling campaign that will take about 100 days, beginning in August.

On the anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) side, Norway's Siem Offshore has won a deal for the 26,670-hp Siem Pearl (built 2009).

The vessel will work for Kinsale Energy over three months, supporting a semi-submersible rig. Mobilisation is expected in July.

Scarcity of contracts

"As there is a scarcity of AHTS term-contract opportunities in the North Sea, the company is pleased to secure utilisation of the vessel into the fourth quarter, as well as being entrusted with confidence in a competitive market," the shipowner said.

AHTS units are seeing utilisation levels of only 55% in the North Sea, according to Norwegian broker Westshore.

However, PSVs are up at 91% usage, with rates at £9,500 ($13,200) per day, up from £6,000 a month ago.

Only two of 22 PSVs are charter-free in Norway and just one of 35 in the UK.

There are still 35 PSVs laid up in the region, as well as 11 AHTS units.

Activity ramping up

Norwegian broker Seabrokers has said North Sea charterers are seeking to limit their requirements for prompt PSVs as rates spike.

Activity levels have ramped up as the peak summer drilling season approaches, and PSVs are in demand for maintenance being carried out by energy companies while the Forties pipeline system is closed for maintenance of its own.

"As expected, PSV availability has been in very short supply on the spot market in the UK and Norwegian sectors," Seabrokers said.

There were a couple of instances where charterers were forced to fix AHTS units to perform supply runs because the PSV spot market was completely sold out.