Offshore support ship operator Sentinel Marine, of Aberdeen, has taken delivery of the latest in its fleet of multi-role emergency response and rescue vessels (ERRVs).
The UK-flagged ship is the seventh of Sentinel Marine’s new breed of ERRVs to enter operation as part of a £110million investment, with a further two currently under construction and due to enter service later this year.
Biscay Sentinel, which is more than 200ft long, was handed over at the Cosco Guangzhou shipyard in China earlier this month and is expected to arrive in Aberdeen in early May. She will immediately start work in the North Sea, providing vital support and lifesaving services to the oil and gas industry.
Rather than retrofitting existing vessels, Sentinel Marine decided to invest in more fuel-efficient, custom-built ERRVs, kitting them out with the latest onboard technologies and crew facilities.
Chief executive Rory Deans said: “Many ERRVs in operation are repurposed fishing or supply vessels.
“By designing our fleet from the ground up we have been able to ensure it is fully equipped with everything our crews require to keep our clients safe offshore.
“Multi-role vessels like Biscay Sentinel provide a greater flexibility for our clients; in addition to their vital, primary lifesaving role they can also be used across a range of other tasks, including rescue towing and dynamic positioning.”