Sweden’s Viking Supply Ships (VSS) has struck a deal with Norwegian owner and sale and leaseback player Ocean Yield to bareboat charter in two anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels currently on contract with Solstad Offshore.
The Christen Sveaas-controlled Viking Supply will take the 2013-built Far Senator and Normand Statesman for a period of five years.
KKR-owned Ocean Yield, which exercised its right to have the vessels redelivered from Solstad, said the new deal includes purchase options during the charter period, and an obligation to purchase the vessels at the end of the charter.
Far Senator and Normand Statesman will join Viking Supply Ships’ fleet when they go off their current charter contracts with Solstad, at the latest during the summer and late fall, respectively. The company’s fleet currently comprises four AHTS and two platform supply vessels. VSS also has five Swedish state-owned icebreakers under operational management.