Charterers in Norway have resorted to fixing anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) units to perform supply duties because platform supply vessels in the region have sold out, according to brokers.
Four AHTS vessels have been fixed in the past few weeks to perform supply duties in Norway, according to a report from offshore supply shipbroker Westshore.
"The use of AHTSs for supply duties is a historical sign of an undersupplied PSV market, which we last frequently witnessed in 2014," Westshore commented.
Today, Siem Offshore's 26,670-bhp Siem Opal (built 2011) was reported fixed to Aker BP.
Ross Offshore was reported to have fixed DOF Offshore's 29,000-bhp Skandi Iceman (built 2013).
TradeWinds is told both vessels were fixed at rates of about NOK 150,000 per day ($17,168).
Other AHTS units have been fixed in the PSV market at rates as high as NOK 200,000, Westshore said in its report.
PSV utilisation in the North Sea is about 81%, the shipbroker said.
AHTS market
After completing their supply duties, the Siem Opal and Skandi Iceman are due to join two other AHTS vessels for a 14-day rig-move contract that begins on Saturday.
The two are among four fixed in the AHTS market this week by Aker BP, which will be paying a daily rate of NOK 235,000, according to Westshore.
The other two vessels are Solstad Offshore's 32,792-bhp Normand Drott (built 2010) and DOF's 23,664-bhp Skandi Bergen (built 2010).
Normand Drott's contract includes the provision of work-class remotely operated vehicles.
The quartet will be repositioning Prosafe's drilling platform Safe Scandinavia from Invergordon in Scotland to the Ula field in Norwegian waters of the North Sea, AIS data shows.
Utilisation of the AHTS fleet in the North Sea is currently at 50%, which Westshore described as "quiet".
