In February, Ulstein Verft delivered the platform supply vessel Bourbon Topaz and is in the process of building its sister ship, the Bourbon Peridot. Now Groupe Bourbon wants an ULSTEIN A102-type anchor handling vessel for delivery in July 2006. An optional sister ship is slated for delivery in January 2007.We are pleased with the Ulstein Design solutions and with the project momentum at Ulstein Verft, and chose the Ulstein Group for this building project as well, says the President of Bourbon Offshore Norway Jostein Sætrenes. "We see a need in the market, and have great faith in an anchor handling vessel of this size", he says.

The vessel is designed by our ship-design company Ulstein Design,which is just about five years old. A total of eleven Ulstein- designed vessels have now been built or are under construction.

"It’s exciting for us that we have managed to establish our market position with our designs in such a short time", says President of Ulstein Design and Ulstein Verft Tore Ulstein, and continues: "We are very pleased with the response and are happy that Bourbon Offshore Norway has once again chosen the Ulstein Group as its design supplier and building yard."

This is the first time a vessel of the ULSTEIN A102-design is being carried out.It is customized to Groupe Bourbon’s needs, and has a bollard pull of 180 tonnes.It is 75.2 metres long and 17 metres wide, and has a large 400-tonne winch.

Bourbon Offshore Norway has ordered an Ulstein A102 anchor handling vessel from Ulstein Verft

The contract also includes an option on a similar vessel of the Ulstein A102 design.