The 'Far Solitaire', a Rolls-Royce designed UT 754 WP platform supply vessel for the offshore oil and gas industry, has been named Skipsrevyen 'Ship of the Year' at the SMM marine industry trade show in Hamburg, Germany.
Built by STX OSV Langsten for owners Farstad Supply, the 'Far Solitaire' is the third Rolls-Royce designed vessel to win the award in the past five years, and is the first to feature the new Rolls-Royce wave piercing bow, a "striking design which, by cutting through waves rather than riding over them, reduces fuel consumption and greatly improves crew comfort and safety," states Rolls-Royce.
The ship is designed specifically for the safe transportation of hazardous chemicals and waste products to and from oil and gas platforms. It will enter service in the North Sea with Farstad Shipping, in October.
It was the combination of the bow deign and the ability to safely supply chemicals offshore that appealed most to the jury. The offshore oil industry has over the years become more and more dependent on chemicals and noxious liquids in order to improve operational efficiency and maintain safety standards. At the same time, restrictions for offshore disposal of the same have become more stringent for environmental reasons.
Other features highlighted by the jury included the development of a new cargo rail crane consept for PSVs and the introduction of the frequency converter for the swing up thruster as power supply for shore power. During the project development phase, Rolls-Royce was challenged by Farstad to pay high attetion to the impact on the environment the construction and operation of this vessel would cause through its lifespan.
Tony Wood, Rolls-Royce, President – Marine, said: "We are delighted to have won this award, and look forward to seeing the 'Far Solitaire' enter service with Farstad in the coming weeks."
"Rolls-Royce UT vessel designs are the benchmark for the offshore oil and gas industry and we are proud to again receive this award which recognises our cutting edge ship design.
"'Far Solitaire' represents a new era for our offshore vessel designs and combines a wide range of sophisticated marine technology and the latest hull design to deliver significant improvements in efficiency, both through fuel consumption and increased cargo capacity."
The 'Far Solitaire' is equipped with a Rolls-Royce propulsion system, including main engines, azipull thrusters and a Dynamic Positioning system which uses satellite technology to enable the ship to automatically hold position, even in rough seas.
Previous Rolls-Royce designed ships to win the award are the 'Far Samson', one of the world's most powerful offshore vessels, and the 'Island Wellserver' – a well intertervention vessel which carries out maintenance and construction work on oil wells located on the seabed.
