Borealis Maritime’s Aurora Offshore venture has expanded its management team as it continues to welcome vessels from the fleet of Greek tycoon Evangelos Marinakis.
The Norwegian company said Stian-Rene Espeland has been recruited as operations manager.
Espeland has been general manager at Green Sea Service for five years.
Before that, he was a master with Arctic Shipping for three years.
“He joins us with extensive experience, having worked through the ranks from AB to captain on board various types of vessels,” Aurora added.
“He also comes with several years of experience as a chief executive officer giving him a unique insight from the office and corporate side of the shipping industry as well,” the company said.
Aurora has also added Leif Kaspersen as technical manager.
He was previously fleet manager at ship manager OSM Thome.
“He joins us with extensive experience as chief engineer, newbuild site engineer, newbuild site manager, technical superintendent and fleet manager,” Aurora said.
Aurora is led by chief executive Steve Brackenridge.
Third Marinakis vessel added
The company now has full management of a third platform supply vessel owned by Marinakis, the 3,500-dwt Ace Kristiansand (built 2005), according to its fleet list.
In August, Aurora said it had sealed a deal to operate two PSVs for the shipowner’s newly formed Capital Offshore Ship Management Corp in Piraeus.
The ships were the large 5,200-dwt pair Ace Supplier and Ace Viking (both built 2007).
Both vessels have just completed term contracts with BP and Shell and are now available in the North Sea Spot market, the manager said.
Aurora has an owned and managed fleet of 18 ships, aside from the new additions.
In June, TradeWinds reported that Marinakis had upped his bet on healthier offshore shipping markets with a landmark order in China.
Capital Offshore ordered four firm PSVs at Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding, with four options attached.
TradeWinds revealed that Capital Offshore was set up in December to capitalise on the hot offshore support vessel sector following acquisitions worth $106m.
The company had quietly built up a fleet of six PSVs from Norway’s Standard Supply.
