Handling Tug News

Demand for high-capability offshore support vessels for floating offshore wind is expected to strengthen in the late 2020s, with availability constraints emerging in some segments as early as 2029, according to a new report from ABS.Produced by ABS in collaboration with Intelatus Global Partners, Floating Offshore Wind and the Vessels That Support It examines the role large anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTSs) and multipurpose support vessels (MPSVs) are expected to play in project execution…

DOF Group has agreed to sell four platform supply vessels (PSVs), acquire two construction support vessels (CSVs) under construction and declare a constructive total loss on the anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Skandi Amazonas, as the company continues to optimize and modernize its fleet.The company said it will sell the Skandi Mongstad, Skandi Flora, Skandi Feistein and Skandi Kvitsøy, with deliveries expected during the third quarter of 2026.The vessels will remain on their current contracts…

Norwegian offshore services provider DOF has received a letter of award for a four-year offshore contract valued between $100 million and $200 million, adding another long-term assignment to its vessel fleet.The company will deploy the anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Skandi Hera on the contract, with operations expected to begin between late 2026 and early 2027.In addition to vessel services, DOF will provide remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services under the agreement.The award remains subject to partner approval…

Caspian Offshore Construction (COC) has acquired an anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel from Sinopacific Engineering & Contracting (SPEC), marking the first vessel in the SPA90 series to join the Kazakh offshore marine service provider's fleet.The shipbuilding contract was signed on April 30, 2026, at Siying Shipyard, where the vessel is under construction. A launching ceremony for the vessel was held on May 20.Named Caspian Yili, the vessel is the first of its kind in COC's fleet and will be the company's largest vessel to date.

Multidisciplinary consultancy AGR has entered into a partnership agreement to onboard the offshore support vessel Aquaman II, expanding its capacity for subsea operations, plug and abandonment (P&A) and decommissioning work in the North Sea.The vessel, owned by Star Matrix and to be operated by AGR, will be configured as a light construction anchor handling tug supply vessel to support subsea and offshore campaigns.AGR said the addition strengthens its marine spread as activity increases across vessel-based subsea operations…

Akastor’s subsidiary DDW Offshore has entered into a binding agreement to sell Skandi Emerald anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel for $23 million.The AHTS, built in 2011, is designed for operations across a range of water depths and environmental conditions.Completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected in the second quarter of 2026.Following the sale, DDW Offshore’s revolving credit facility will be reduced from $16 million to $8 million.The companies did not reveal the name of the buyer or any other details.

Offshore services provider Bourbon has expanded its fleet with 13 vessels valued at more than $180 million since the start of 2026, as it seeks to strengthen its position in offshore markets, the company said.Ten of the vessels are already under contract, reflecting demand for offshore support vessels (OSVs), Bourbon said.The expansion includes the acquisition of six diesel-electric vessels from the Minsheng Group, comprising five platform supply vessels (PSV) and one 80-ton bollard pull anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS)…

Malaysia-based offshore support vessel (OSV) provider Nam Cheong has sold two vessels for $36.7 million, including its first newbuild sale in more than a decade.The transactions include a newly built multi-purpose support vessel (MPSV) and a 120-tonne anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel, which was 16 years old and divested following the completion of its charter contract in the first quarter of 2026.Both vessels were delivered in the second quarter of 2026 to a vessel operator…

Perdana Petroleum has secured contracts to provide two anchor handling tug and supply vessels (AHTS) to Petronas Carigali.The company said its wholly owned unit Perdana Nautika received the work orders on April 8 for the provision of the vessels to support offshore operations.The contracts cover charter periods of 303 days and 224 days respectively, each with an option to extend by a further 40 days.Perdana said the vessels will be deployed to provide 24-hour services including support for drilling rigs…

Malaysia-based offshore support vessel (OSV) provider Nam Cheong has secured OSV charter contracts worth up to $25 million, as demand for vessels remains firm in Southeast Asia.The contracts cover one anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel and one maintenance work vessel, each with a firm charter period of up to two years starting in 2026, with options to extend for an additional year.The AHTS vessel has been chartered to Offshore Oil Engineering and began operations in the first quarter of 2026…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner DDW Offshore, a subsidiary of Akastor, has completed the sale of Skandi Atlantic anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel.The purchase price for the vessel is $22.5 million, Akastor said, without disclosing further details about the buyer.Built in 2012 and featuring STX AH08 design, the Skandi Atlantic is a high powered AHTS vessel designed for operations across a wide range of water depths and environmental conditions.The agreement for the vessel was entered into on Saleform 2012 terms…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has extended the previously agree four-year contract with Petrobras for its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Normand Turquesa.The current Normand Turquesa contract with Petrobras has been extended by one year, and the start of the previously announced four-year contract has been amended from the first quarter of 2026 to the first quarter of 2027.This represents an additional gross value of approximately $15.4 million, according to Solstad Offshore…

Phoenix's International (Phoenix) recently assisted the Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA) Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) with the successful recovery of an MH-60R helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft. The two aircraft went down within 30 minutes of each other during routine flight operations off the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) in the South China Sea on October 26, 2025. All crew members survived and were rescued.Phoenix personnel traveled to Singapore and…

Norwegian offshore supply vessel owner DOF Group has secured seven new contract extensions with Petrobras for its offshore support vessels (OSVs) in Brazil, valued over $160 million.Five of DOF's Brazilian-flagged anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels, all with ROVs on board, including Skandi Fluminense, Skandi Paraty, Skandi Angra, Skandi Urca and Skandi Iguaçu, have had their current contracts with Petrobras extended until the first quarter of 2027.The new four-year contracts…

Solstad Offshore ASA (SOFF) has announced that the company has been awarded a new contract by PETROBRAS for the anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS) Normand Topazio.The contract has a duration of 4 years firm and is scheduled to commence in 1Q 2026. The vessel will support Petrobras operations in Brazil.The total gross value of the contract is approximately $73 million.

Norwegian offshore supply vessel owner DOF Group has signed an agreement to sell the Skandi Handler anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel.The sale has been made through DOF Group’s Danish subsidiary DOF Denmark. The company did not disclose the name of the buyer or the value of the transaction.The vessel is planned to be delivered to the new owner in the fourth quarter of 2025.Skandi Handler AHTS vessel is of UT 722 LE design. The vessel is 80 meters long with the breadth of 18 meters. Its total carrying capacity is 2592 t, and it is able to accommodate 27 people.

Offshore vessel operator Astro Offshore, an Adani Group company, has acquired two modern platform supply vessels (PSVs) and entered the West African market, expanding its global footprint.The vessels, Astro Rastaban (built 2020) and Astro Rigel (built 2023), lift the company’s fleet to 44 vessels and mark its first operations in West Africa.The acquisitions complement Astro’s broader fleet growth plans, which include two diesel-electric anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels due for delivery in the coming weeks and two ballastable barges scheduled for completion late in 2025.The company…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has secured two contracts for its Normand Turmalina and Normand Superior vessels, with the combined worth of $65 million.The anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Normand Turmalina has received a contract extension from BRAVA Energia in Brazil.The extended contract has a duration of three years, starting immediately after the current contract, securing a firm commitment for the vessel until early 2029.The second contract is related…

Robert Allan Ltd. has been awarded a contract to design an AmpRA 3600 tug for Tianjin Port in Northern China.The AmpRA 3600 series tug will be constructed at Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard (Group) Co. Ltd.The order builds on a successful conventional propulsion design for the same owner and shipyard, with two vessels of similar hull form in service.The AmpRA 3600 will have all powering from batteries, with no generator sets onboard, making it a fully battery electric and diesel free ship handling tug.It will be the first Robert Allan Ltd.

Norwegian offshore supply vessel owner DOF Group has secured a contract with Petrobras for two of its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels.The two contracts, with a combined value of more than $220 million, are for Skandi Fluminense, a 2007 Brazilian-built AHTS vessel with 211t bollard pull, and Skandi Lifter, a foreign-flagged 250t AHTS built in 2009.The contracts for both vessels will run for four years.The agreements follow the same competitive AHTS tender process for Petrobras that resulted in the contracts of Skandi Logger…

Norwegian offshore supply vessel owner DOF Group has signed agreements to sell two of its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel to an international buyer.The sold vessels include Skandi Tender and Skandi Trader, both build in 2009.The sale of Skandi Trader is contingent upon the buyer’s inspection, DOF Group added, not disclosing any additional details.Both vessels are planned to be delivered to the new owner in September 2025.

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has confirmed a contract with Petrobras for its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Normand Turquesa.The four-year contract, which received board approval, is scheduled to begin in February 2026.The current contract for Normand Turquesa has also been extended by nine months and runs until start of new contract.With the latest contract, worth $84 million, the vessel will be fully committed until February 2030, Solstad said earlier.Normand Turquesa AHTS is of UT 722 L design, built in 2007.

MacGregor has secured a contract to supply an advanced anchor handling towing winch (AHTW) package for a series anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels owned by SINOPACIFIC Engineering & Contracting (SPEC).The MacGregor AHTW package is designed to support the complex operations of SPA90 (90T BP AHTS ABS Class) AHTS vessels, ensuring precision, safety, and operational efficiency in all offshore conditions.The MacGregor scope of supply includes anchor windlass with roller chain stoppers…