Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels are mainly built to handle anchors for oil rigs , tow them to location, and use them to secure the rigs in place. AHTS vessels sometimes also serve as Emergency Response and Rescue Vessels (ERRVs) and as supply transports.
6-524: AHTS Bourbon Dolphin was an anchor handling tug supply vessel of Bourbon Offshore Norway . The ship capsized off the coast of Shetland on April 12, 2007, and sank three days later while preparations were being made to tow her to shore. Bourbon Dolphin was built at the Ulstein Verft in 2006, the "Ulstein A102" design. She was part of a three-ship contract with Bourbon, the two others being
12-532: The Bourbon Orca and Bourbon Mistral . On February 21, 2007 Bourbon Dolphin succeeded in pulling the German mine hunter Grömitz to sea again after she had run aground near Florø . Less than two months later, on April 12, she capsized with 15 Norwegian sailors aboard. Eight were picked up by vessels already on scene and two were found by Her Majesty's Coastguard , while five are still missing. Three of
18-664: The bollard pull . The machinery is specifically designed for anchor handling operations. They also have arrangements for quick anchor release, which is operable from the bridge or other normally crewed locations in direct communication with the bridge. The reference load used in the design and testing of the towing winch is twice the static bollard pull. Even if AHTS-vessels are customized for anchor-handling and towing, they can also undertake, for example, ROV ( remotely operated underwater vehicle ) services, safety/rescue services, and supply duties between mainland and offshore installations. The world's strongest tug since its delivery in 2020
24-505: The harsh conditions of the North Sea , and can undertake supply duties there between land bases and drilling sites. They also provide towing assistance during tanker loading, deepwater anchor handling, and towing of threatening objects. AHTS vessels differ from platform supply vessels (PSVs) in being fitted with winches for towing and anchor handling, having an open stern to allow the decking of anchors, and having more power to increase
30-586: The ten recovered were reported dead. The incident happened while Bourbon Dolphin was anchoring the semi-submersible drilling platform Transocean Rather . The 99-man crew of the Rather was evacuated by the RAF . On Sunday 15 April, Bourbon Dolphin sank in 1,100 meters of water off the coast of Shetland , Scotland at 59°55′50″N 0°26′22″W / 59.9305°N 0.439333°W / 59.9305; -0.439333 . In January 2009 Bourbon Offshore Norway
36-503: Was fined 5 million Norwegian kroner (€530,000 at the time) after a Norwegian government Commission of Inquiry raised doubts about the ability of both the vessel and its crew to handle large anchors in such deep water. Norway's national prosecutor said the new captain, who died with his son in the sinking, had not been given enough time to learn about the crew and ship, as he only had 90 minutes to take over. Anchor handling tug supply vessel Many of these vessels are designed to meet
#90909