Dubai, UAE: Topaz Energy and Marine took delivery of the newest addition to its fleet, the 'Caspian Protector' on April 11.
The vessel will be deployed in Azerbaijan in support of a ten-year US$225 million BP contract won in 2008.
The 'Caspian Protector' was a state-of-the-art 61-metre vessel designed for emergency recovery and response (ERRV), standby duties and fire fighting operations. It is the first vessel in the Caspian region to be equipped with three daughter craft and two fast rescue craft. The vessel is equipped with Dynamic Positioning capabilities (DP1) and will assist in the safekeeping of workers on various oil production platforms in the Azeri sector of the Caspian Sea.
The financing for the 'Caspian Protector' is provided by DVB Bank of Germany as part of a US$84 million term loan facility including three other vessels on time-charter to BP.
The vessel was built by Malaysian shipyard Berjaya, and is presently being mobilised from Malaysia via the Volga-Don canal to Baku in Azerbaijan.