Highland Navigator Joins Thales Geosolutions' Fleet

Thales GeoSolutions has signed an agreement with Gulf Offshore Inc. for the charter of the Highland Navigator. The agreement is initially for three years with options to extend.

The Highland Navigator is a purpose built UT745 DPII platform supply vessel (PSV) ideally suited for survey and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) support. Offering a variety of services in offshore oilfield support, the vessel is equipped with a full complement of construction support, inspection and survey equipment, including deepwater ROVs, 35Te crane, 30Te A-frame, dual fully redundant differential GPS systems together with all the necessary on-line acquisition and off-line data processing and charting software. There is also extensive deck space for customers' own equipment and materials. Overall length is 84 metres and total accommodation is provided for 48 people.

This latest addition expands Thales GeoSolutions' fleet of specialist vessels and is the first of two new DPII support vessels joining the enlarged fleet this year. The second, the Pacific Retriever, is slightly smaller at 65m in length. She has been acquired on a three-year charter from Swire Offshore for operation in American waters.

Thales GeoSolutions' Technical Manager, Iain Lowson, said: "The addition of the Highland Navigator to Thales Geo Solutions' vessel portfolio is part of an on-going strategy of meeting our customers' needs through supplying high quality, versatile platforms. Our continued development in survey and ROV technology will be fully supported by high specification, self-positioning vessels with a significant degree of built-in redundancy."

The Highland Navigator will be managed from Thales GeoSolutions' offices in Aberdeen and initially operate in the North Sea.