Greece's Laskaridis Shipping has added to its offshore support vessel fleet as it continues to convert the ships for charitable work.
The company acquired the 4,000-dwt platform supply vessel Highland Navigator (built 2002) from US OSV giant Tidewater.
The ship has be renamed Victor and has headed to Greece. Clarksons previously listed it as idle.
Laskaridis confirmed it is the third OSV bought by the group since 2018.
The vessels will be used for charitable work relating to environmental projects in Greece.
Beach cleaning
"One of our PSVs is currently engaged in beach cleaning and plastic removals from the sea," a spokesman told TradeWinds.
"Most likely ... one more unit will be employed in such type of tasks including salvage operations, etc."
He said another has been converted and equipped to assist in diving expeditions and seabed research related to shipwrecks, in coordination with Greek archaeological authorities.
"All of them will also offer services to the remote small islands with small populations at times of adverse weather conditions," he added.
The Laskaridis family has traditionally been "very sensitive" to environmental issues, especially in Greece, the spokesman said.
The group said it may consider buying one or two more such ships.
It will certainly have its pick from an over-tonnaged sector that has been hit by poor rates in recent years.
VesselsValue estimates the Victor is worth $2.58m. However, no sales price was revealed.
Previous conversions
Last year, Laskaridis bought the 3,000-dwt Stril Neptun (built 1999) from Norwegian owner Simon Mokster Rederi for work outside the oil and gas sector.
The company has also previously acquired the 4,500-dwt Malaviya Twenty (renamed Typhoon, built 2004).
Laskaridis originally said this was a one-off move and did not signal an entry into the offshore market.
The vessel is headed to Astander's shipyard in Santander, Spain, for maintenance and dry-docking after two years in lay-up.
The ship spent more than two years in Great Yarmouth, UK, after its Indian owner, GOL Offshore, collapsed.
The vessel was auctioned by the UK Admiralty Marshal for $1.076m.
Laskaridis is better known as an owner of bulkers, reefers and tankers.
