Anchor-handler owners (AHTS) are facing a new headache after Norwegian major Equinor unveiled its new rig anchor release (RAR) system.
The kit allows a rig to disconnect from the mooring line spread at the push of a button, broker Westshore said.
The rig can then move to the next location under its own propulsion and connect to a new pre-laid spread using the support of two or four anchor-handlers.
One of the vessels then heads back to recover the abandoned mooring spread.
"The use of the RAR halves the AHTS vessel days for a rig move and makes it even more difficult to maintain a high utilisation for the AHTS fleet," Westshore said.
Equinor is currently hooking up the TO Spitsbergen rig in the Norwegian Sea.
Utilisation for the North Sea fleet is already low at 45%, with four vessels charter-free in Norway and 10 of 13 open in the UK.
A total of 42 AHTS units remain in layup in the region.
Rates are likely to be lower than the £20,000 ($26,500) per day reported earlier this month.
The market for platform supply vessels (PSVs) is still strong, with utilisation at 93%.
Ships remain sold out in Norway and only two vessels are available on the UK side.
Rates have reached £10,500 per day.
