Bibby Offshore Supports Increasing Work in North Sea
Aberdeen-based subsea installation contractor Bibby Offshore has announced it will increase staff numbers by a further 60 as it takes over ownership of the Dive Support Vessel (DSV) Toisa Polaris.
The vessel came under the control of Bibby Offshore in January 2012 on a two-year time charter with options to extend. This also included a pre-agreed purchase option as part of the deal with Toisa Ltd. Bibby Offshore has now exercised its option to purchase the vessel and took delivery of Polaris in Stavanger Norway on 31 October 2012. The vessel was named DSV “Bibby Polaris” to recognise both the new owners and also to retain the link to the vessel’s impressive reputation as an accomplished and proven North Sea diving and subsea construction platform.
The vessel has been one of the North Sea’s premier DSVs for a number of years and has an outstanding track record since its delivery in 1999.
The deal gives Bibby Offshore 100% ownership of one of a small number of high specification DPIII North Sea class DSVs. The vessel has an established track record for carrying out complex and varied projects, which is exactly the type of work secured by Bibby Offshore throughout the UKCS.
The purchase of the vessel also means that the marine crew will now be provided by Bibby subsidiary, Bibby Ship Management, meaning the creation of around 60 offshore positions.