Wednesday 7 March 2018

Offshore Ship Designers (OSD) has unveiled a new series of Ice Class vessel designs. The new designs are especially suited for marine services around the development of new arctic ports, terminals and offshore structures. A prerequisite for this type of vessel, operating under arctic circumstances, is the ability to deal with the presence of first year or floating ice, cold conditions and less developed shore facilities. Apart from being able to perform their specific tasks, typical design requirements are increased strength, special installations for tank heating and winterization, high maneuverability and limited draft.

Development of this series of designs follows the extensive experience OSD has gained with the development of shallow draft anchor-handling tug supply vessels Arctic and Antarctic, for Ark Shipping. Arctic and Antarctic were designed in close co-operation with the owner, have a Bureau Veritas 1A Ice Class Notation, and are fully equipped to operate in the challenging and extreme conditions of the Caspian Sea, where ice formation of around 80 cm during the winter period is not exceptional.

The designs are available, as standard, in three different lengths at 50m, 65m and 80m and have a bollard pull ranging from 45 up to 70 tonnes.