Statoil has awarded contracts for the charter of seven new supply vessels for the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). The newbuildings are equipped with the latest environmental technology while some of them are specially designed for operation in the High North.

Two of the vessels will be supplied by Farstad Shipping, two by Atlantic Offshore, one by Simon Møkster Shipping, another one by Troms Offshore Management and the final one by Remøy Shipping. The contract value in total is worth $587 million.

All the vessels meet, by a good margin, the most stringent requirements of the International Maritime Organization with regard to NOx emissions. In addition, the vessels are equipped with an ecometer, a device which will enable the crew to sail more optimally and thus reduce emissions, said Statoil.

I would like to emphasize how the maritime industry is providing innovative technology that leads to more environmentally friendly sea-going transport," said Statoil's chief procurement officer, Jon Arnt Jacobsen.

Several of the vessels are specially designed for operation in the High North, and have the highest oil-spill protection classification.

The vessels supplied by Farstad Shipping and Atlantic Offshore will be on charter for Statoil for six years with three annual options.

The vessels supplied by Simon Møkster Shipping, Troms Offshore and Remøy Shipping have been awarded contracts for three years with three annual options. The vessel from Remøy Shipping is liquefied natural gas-powered and will be the sixth vessel powered in this way that Statoil has chartered on a long-term basis.

The newbuildings will be delivered by the end of 2014.