Stirling Shipping Company announced the conclusion of a contract under which BAE Systems will build a large anchor handler/tug/supply vessel. The contract includes an option for a second vessel to be built. The vessel will be built to the same design as the Anchor Handling/Tug/Supply Vessel recently ordered by Stirling Offshore from Ferguson Shipbuilders Limited, and will be an enhanced version of Stirling Iona delivered earlier this year.

To be built to the Stirling VS 475 AHTS design the vessel (length – 74.75m, breadth – 16.0m, 15,000HP) will be equipped with anchor handling and towing winch capacity (380 tons pull capacity), bollard pull (about 175 tons) and chain handling capabilities. Station keeping capabilities will be provided by three 1,000 HP tunnel thrusters and a dynamic positioning system.

For BAE Systems on the Clyde, this contract provides a significant contribution towards bridging the gap in steelwork production and outfitting, between now and the start of the ALSL programme. The vessels will join Stirling Shipping’s fleet of 16 vessels – 12 Platform Supply Vessels, 3 Anchor Handling/Tug/Supply Vessels, and 1 Anchor Handling/Tug/Supply Vessel currently being built on the Clyde. It will further vessels will help consolidate Stirling Shipping’s position in the anchor handling market.