Dutch dredging and offshore services company Royal Boskalis Westminster has strengthened its fleet with the addition of two 2011-built diving support vessels.
Boskalis reached a deal with the bondholders of the two former Harkand vessels, acquiring the Nor Atlantis for $60m and taking sister vessel Nor Da Vinci on a three-year bareboat charter. It also has first right of refusal on the chartered vessel in the event of a sale.
Boskalis says the move is part of its corporate business plan to strengthen and expand in the subsea services sector, although industry rumour was this would come via a takeover of Bibby Offshore.
“With this addition the existing position in the area of inspection, repair and maintenance of subsea offshore installation, pipelines and cables is strengthened. Furthermore, the foundation is laid for an expansion in the area of subsea contracting, installation and SURF with the aim of further growth in this segment of the offshore energy market in the regions northwest Europe, Africa and the Middle East” the company said in a statement.
Harkand went into administration in May 2016 after it defaulted on bond payments.
