Statoil orders emergency vessels
Statoil has ordered two newbuild emergency response vessels from Danish shipping company Esvagt. One will replace an existing vessel working in the Sleipner/Volve area of the North Sea. The other will patrol the Gjoa field region. Both vessels will be around 76.5 m (251 ft) long, with a beam of 17 m (56 ft), and a transit speed of up to 17 kt (19.56 mi/hr). Each will be able to take on board 370 people, should a major accident occur. They will also feature advanced oil spill prevention equipment, and will be equipped to handle both emergency tows of drifting vessels, and hauling in of smaller craft during bad weather, via a stern sluice. Esvagt is due to deliver the vessels in spring 2009. The contracts have an eight-year duration, with options for three one-year extensions .