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PICTURE OF THE DAY
PIC OF THE DAY ARCHIVES
2007 - 77 Photographs
2008 - 101 Photographs
2009 - 124 Photographs
2010 - 118 Photographs
2011 - 100 Photographs
2012 - 97 Photographs

SHIP INFORMATION
FLEET LISTS
EUROPE PAGE 1
Acergy, Active, Acomarit,
Aries Offshore, Arctia, Arktik-
more, Bibby, Boa, Branding,
BUE, Boston Putford, Bourbon Offshore, Deep Sea Supply, DOF, Eide, Eidsurf, Eidesvik, ER Schiffart
EUROPE PAGE 2
Esvagt, Fairmount, Fairplay, Farstad, Femco, Fletcher Shipping, Fratelli d'Amato, Geoconsult, Gulf Offshore, Harmsbergung, Harrisons, Hartmann, Havila
EUROPE PAGE 3
Heerema, Island Offshore, JP Knight, K Line, Lauritzen Offshore, Maersk Supply, Marine Subsea, ITC, Noorhoek, Nordane, Mokster/Eidesvik, Myklebusthaug, North Star, Nomis, O.H.Meling, Olympic Shipping, OOC Offshore, Ostensjo Rederi, Petrobaltic, REM Offshore, Sartor Shipping
EUROPE PAGE 4
Sea Mar Shipping, Sealion, Siem Offshore, Simon Mokster, SMS, Solstad Offshore, TFDS, Telco, Trico, Varada, Viking Supply Ships, Vroon
S. ATLANTIC & CARRIBEAN
Astro Maritima, Bourbon Maritima, CBO, Delba Maritima, Finarge Brasil, Gulf Brasil, GulfMark Trinidad, Norskan, Saveiros Camuyrano, Sea Trucks Group
INDIA
Garware, Greatship India, Great Offshore, Procyon Offshore, Varun Shipping
NORTH AMERICA PAGE 1
Abdon Callais, Atlantic Towing, Boluda, C&G Boats, Deepocean, Edison Chouest, Harvey Gulf Marine, Hornbeck, L&M Botruc, Naviera B Tamaulipas, Oddyssea, OIL, Otto Candies, Rowan, Seacor, Sea Nar Inc, Secunda, Tidewater.
NORTH AMERICA PAGE 2
Trico Marine
FAR EAST & AUSTRALIA
Alam Maritim, Allied Marine, Britoil, CH Offshore, Go Offshore, Hallin, Huawei Offshore, IOS, Jaya Holdings, Mermaid Marine, NOR Offshore, Petra Perdana, Swire Pacific,
MED & MIDDLE EAST
Adams, Augusta, Augustea, Brodospas, EDT Offshore, Finarge Genova, Five Oceans Salvage, Mar Sol, MCT, Med Offshore, NJSC Chornomornaftogaz, Portosalvo, Remolques Maritimos, Seaways International,

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PUBLICATIONS
THE HISTORY OF THE SUPPLY SHIP
SUPPLY SHIP OPERATIONS

THE ABERDEEN WEBCAM

OCEAN INCHCAPE LTD (OIL)

In 1972 Ocean Fleets, commercially known as Blue Funnel, entered into a partnership with the Inchcape Group to operate a supply vessel company to be known as Ocean Inchcape Ltd or O.I.L . While Ocean Fleets had no previous experience in the field, the Inchcape Group had been the owners of a single supply ship, the San Pedro Gulf out in Australia and later had formed an alliance with the Straits Steamship Company which became the Borneo Straits Offshore (Pty) BSO. This company had built three ships to support Shell’s activities off Borneo.

The Inchcape experience was put to use in the design of the first eight of the company’s ships which were built at a number of yards in Holland, the company being unable to find any in UK yards which would deliver this number of vessels, on time over the following four years. We should remember here that it was not possible to find one yard to build eight small ships – two a year – when Halter Moss Point was averaging 12.3 ships a year over the decade.

In any case, from a number of yards in Holland the four OIL Mark Ones were delivered in 1972. They were the Oil Producer, the Oil Prospector, Oil Supplier and Oil Explorer. They were followed in 1973 by two further vessels, though by now OIL had learned that the low bridge structures of the first four were vulnerable to the sea, and put in an extra deck. These two vessels were called Oil Venturer and Oil Discoverer, and finally another two ships were brought into service in 1974, the Oil Mariner and the Oil Driller. The fleet became progressively more powerful, starting at about 4000 bhp and finishing at over 6000 bhp.

In 1988 the purchase of OSA by OIL was one of the more surprising events of the decade. Everyone looked back to the mid 1970s when the OSA fleet had seemed to be in the ascendant, in the same way as the Maersk fleet was to become at the turn of the century. When the business needed anchor-handlers OSA would turn out a few and when it needed pipe-carriers, no problem, there they were occupying most of the berths alongside in Aberdeen.

During the previous decade the OSA anchor-handlers had lain in the River Tay, grey, glamorous and menacing as they swung round their anchors for weeks at a time waiting for the day rates to rise to a point where some-one could afford them. To the crews of the smaller ships, and at that time that was everyone else, they were known as “the Grand Fleet”.

OSA, and just to remind everyone - OSA stands for the “Offshore Supply Association”, had a tendency to build parallel ships for their main partners, some of them ending in the letters “turm” and others in the letters “tor”. Hence the group of 9000 bhp anchor-handlers which entered service in the mid 1970s were the Schepelsturm, the Schnoorturm, the Werdertor, the Herdentor and the extremely large and efficient platform ships were the Huntetor, the Faldentor, the Kaubturm, and the Kreuzturm. Some of these vessels still formed the backbone of the OSA fleet when OIL made the purchase, and large numbers of small pipe carriers were also included in the deal.

OIL were very proud of the acquisition and were able to continue their operations as a world wide service provider. The deal was done for £28 million and it enhanced OIL’s increasing reputation as a successful fire sale bidder.

In 1997 Tidewater purchased OIL who were now a fleet of considerable size due to their acquisition of OSA in 1988. OIL had become a feature of the world wide supply vessel industry, being particularly strong in the Far East where they had kept a strong presence and even in Mexico where a number of old OIL ships had worked for years. At the time of the take-over they were operating a fleet of 30 supply vessels and anchor handlers plus large numbers of crew boats standby vessels and tugs. The purchase by Tidewater was a way in which the latter could become a more positive presence in the heavy duty market and was a sign that the largest supply ship owner in the world had realised that they had lost their way.

This is not to say that OIL were the most modern ship-owners. Although they had built ships in the early days, when everyone was building, with the passing of time, and the variable fortunes of the industry, they had traded on their stability and had purchased second hand tonnage from less well endowed owners during the downturns. The combination of the car boot sale approach and the complete OSA fleet, which had also been of variable age and origins made the OIL ships a polyglot collection, which could be expected to challenge the resourcefulness of any ship manager. But there is no doubt that Tidewater felt themselves equal to the task.

The above is derived from the text of "The History of the Supply Ship". Elements of the OIL and OSA fleet which are of course now part of the Tidewater organisation are included here. Because of the limited information now available from Tidewater this page is compiled using as much information as is available from other sources. When time allows additions are being made to this page, as the site is becoming a record of history as well as a source of current information. It is a sad comment on the state of the world - I think - that while we can find photographs of almost all ships which ever existed, there is very little written information.

ANCHOR-HANDLERS
PLATFORM SHIPS

Updated (a bit) 9th May 2013.

ANCHOR-HANDLERS

TYPE: OSA AS55		NAME: Alstertor		PHOTO: Oddgeir Refvik

GENERAL		PROPULSION		EQUIPMENT
Length OA	57.3 m	Engines	2 x Yanmar 8Z	Workdrum pull	100 tonnes
Breadth	12.3 m	BHP	4000 tonnes	Capacity 1	600m x 50mm
DWT	1018 tonnes	For'd Thruster	320 bhp	Capacity 2
Deck area	263.5 m2	Az Thruster		Towdrum pull
Fuel	538 m3	Aft Thrusters		Capacity 1	600m x 50mm
Pot water	140 m3	Bollard pull	55 tonnes	Capacity 2
Mud	218 m3			Sharks Jaw
Base oil		DP		Cranes
Brine		Joystick		Tank Cleaning	None
Dry bulk	112 m3	Year built	1983	Shipyard	Hitzler Werft
Previous names
Comments

TYPE: OSA AS55		NAME: Holstentor		PHOTO: Oddgeir Refvik

GENERAL		PROPULSION		EQUIPMENT
Length OA	57.3 m	Engines	2 x Yanmar 8Z	Workdrum pull	100 tonnes
Breadth	12.3 m	BHP	4000 tonnes	Capacity 1	600m x 50mm
DWT	1018 tonnes	For'd Thruster	320 bhp	Capacity 2
Deck area	263.5 m2	Az Thruster		Towdrum pull
Fuel	538 m3	Aft Thrusters		Capacity 1	600m x 50mm-
Pot water	140 m3	Bollard pull	55 tonnes	Capacity 2
Mud	218 m3			Sharks Jaw
Base oil		DP		Cranes
Brine		Joystick		Tank Cleaning	None
Dry bulk	112 m3	Year built	1983	Shipyard	Hitzler Werft
Previous names
Comments

TYPE: OSA AS55		NAME: Oxenturm		PHOTO: Jan Plug

GENERAL		PROPULSION		EQUIPMENT
Length OA	57.3 m	Engines	2 x Yanmar 8Z	Workdrum pull	100 tonnes
Breadth	12.3 m	BHP	4000 tonnes	Capacity 1	600m x 50mm
DWT	1018 tonnes	For'd Thruster	320 bhp	Capacity 2
Deck area	263.5 m2	Az Thruster		Towdrum pull
Fuel	538 m3	Aft Thrusters		Capacity 1	600m x 50mm-
Pot water	140 m3	Bollard pull	55 tonnes	Capacity 2
Mud	218 m3			Sharks Jaw
Base oil		DP		Cranes
Brine		Joystick		Tank Cleaning	None
Dry bulk	112 m3	Year built	1983	Shipyard	Hitzler Werft
Previous names
Comments

TYPE: OSA AS55 NAME: Pagenturm PHOTO: Jan Plug, Hans Bosch, Oddgeir Refvik

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA 57.3 m Engines 2 x Yanmar 8Z Workdrum pull 100 tonnes

Breadth 12.3 m BHP 4000 tonnes Capacity 1 600m x 50mm

DWT 1018 tonnes For'd Thruster 320 bhp Capacity 2

Deck area 263.5 m2 Az Thruster Towdrum pull

Fuel 538 m3 Aft Thrusters Capacity 1 600m x 50mm-

Pot water 140 m3 Bollard pull 55 tonnes Capacity 2

Mud 218 m3 Sharks Jaw

Base oil DP Cranes

Brine Joystick Tank Cleaning None

Dry bulk 112 m3 Year built 1983 Shipyard Hitzler Werft

Previous names

Comments

TYPE: OIL Mk III NAME: OIL MARINER PHOTO: Vic Gibson

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA 59.5 m Engines 2 x English Electric Workdrum pull 178 t

Breadth 13.0 m BHP 6700 Capacity 1 915m x 56mm

DWT 1062 t kW 4926 Capacity 2 -

Deck area 330 m2 For'd Thruster - Towdrum pull 178 t

Fuel 422 m3 Az Thruster 1 x 500 bhp Capacity 1 915m x 56mm

Pot water 186 m3 Aft Thrusters - Capacity 2 -

Mud - Bollard pull 81 t Sharks Jaw -

Brine - DP - Cranes -

Dry bulk 159 m3 Joystick - Tank cleaning -

Year built 1973 Shipyard Ysselwerf Berths 23

Previous names -

Comments -

TYPE: OIL Mk III NAME: OIL DRILLER PHOTO:

GENERAL

PROPULSION

EQUIPMENT

Length OA 59.5 m Engines 2 x English Electric Workdrum pull 178 t

Breadth 13.0 m BHP 6700 Capacity 1 915m x 56mm

DWT 1062 t kW 4926 Capacity 2 -

Deck area 330 m2 For'd Thruster - Towdrum pull 178 t

Fuel 422 m3 Az Thruster 1 x 500 bhp Capacity 1 915m x 56mm

Pot water 186 m3 Aft Thrusters - Capacity 2 -

Mud - Bollard pull 81 t Sharks Jaw -

Brine - DP - Cranes -

Dry bulk 159 m3 Joystick - Tank cleaning -

Year built 1973 Shipyard Ysselwerf Berths 23

Previous names -

Comments -

TYPE: ME 303		NAME: Oil Provider		PHOTO: Kenny Polson, Vic Gibson

GENERAL		PROPULSION		EQUIPMENT
Length OA	67.87m	Engines	4 x Wichmann	Workdrum pull
Breadth	15.6m	BHP	12320	Capacity 1	1500m x 64mm
DWT	2042t	For'd Thruster	2 x 815 bhp	Capacity 2	1500m x 64mm
Deck area	476.16	Az Thruster		Towdrum pull
Fuel	977m3	Aft Thrusters	1 x 815 bhp	Capacity 1	1500m x 64mm
Pot water	609m3	Bollard pull	135 tonnes	Capacity 2
Mud	267m3			Sharks Jaw
Brine		DP		Cranes
Dry bulk	222m3	Joystick	Hjelseth	Tank cleaning
Year built	1984			Shipyard	Dae Dong, Korea
Previous names	Edda Sun, Star Orion, Troms Tjell
Comments	This ship was originally built as the Edda Sun, but did not leave the yard until it was purchased by Star Offshore as the Star Orion. It was then bought by TFDS before being purchased by OIL.

TYPE: UT 704		NAME: Oil Valiant		PHOTO: -

GENERAL		PROPULSION		EQUIPMENT
Length OA	64.67 m	Engines	2 x MAK	Workdrum pull	250 t
Breadth	13.8 m	BHP	8020	Capacity 1	1000m x 56mm
DWT	1856 t	kW	5900	Capacity 2	-
Deck area	429 m2	For'd Thruster	1 x 670 bhp	Towdrum pull	250 t
Fuel	592 m3	Az Thruster	-	Capacity 1	1400m x 56mm
Pot water	255 m3	Aft Thrusters	-	Capacity 2	-
Mud	334 m3	Bollard pull	105 t	Sharks Jaw	Karforks
Brine	-	DP	-	Cranes	-
Dry bulk	170 m3	Joystick	-	Tank cleaning	-
Year built	1982			Shipyard	Husumer
Previous names	Balder Heide, British Emerald, Lancelot Bay
Comments	-

TYPE: UT 704 MK III		NAME: Oil Vibrant		PHOTO: George Craigen

GENERAL		PROPULSION		EQUIPMENT
Length OA	64.55 m	Engines	2 x Wartsila	Workdrum pull	300 tonnes
Breadth	13.8 m	BHP	9000	Capacity 1	1000m x 56mm
DWT	1869 tonnes	For'd Thruster	1 x 800 bhp-	Capacity 2	1000m x 56mm
Deck area	418 m2	Az Thruster		Towdrum pull
Fuel	880 m3	Aft Thrusters		Capacity 1	1200m x 64mm
Pot water	450 m3	Bollard pull	110 tonnes	Capacity 2
Mud	215 m3			Sharks Jaw	Ulstein
Brine		DP		Cranes
Dry bulk	226 m3	Joystick	Seimans	Tank cleaning	No
Year built	1983			Shipyard	Ulstein Verft
Previous names	Star Polaris (Photo)
Comments

PLATFORM SHIPS

TYPE: OSA PS45		NAME: Gallusturm		PHOTO:

GENERAL		PROPULSION		CARGO CAPACITY
Length OA	56.2 m	Engines	2 x MWM	Fuel	525 m3
Breadth	14.3 m	BHP/kW	3500/2570	Pot water	540 m3
DWT	1497 t	For'd Thrusters	1 x610	Mud	174 m3
Deck area	310 m2	Az Thruster	-	Base oil	-
		Aft Thrusters	-	Brine	-
Year built	1978	Joystick	AEG	Dry bulk	212 m3
Shipyard	Hitzler Verft	DP	-	Tank Cleaning	-
Previous names	-
Comments	-

TYPE: OSA OP7000		NAME: Kaubturm		PHOTO: Vic Gibson

GENERAL		PROPULSION		CARGO CAPACITY
Length OA	78.85 m	Engines	2 x KHD	Fuel	1300 m3
Breadth	15.22 m	BHP	6000	Pot water	633 m3
DWT	2652 t	For'd Thrusters	2 x 600 bhp	Mud	524 m3
Deck area	582.4 m2	Az Thruster		Base oil
		Aft Thrusters	2 x 300 bhp	Brine
Year built	1978	Joystick	AEG	Dry bulk	348 m3
Shipyard	Surken GmBH	DP		Tank Cleaning
Previous names
Comments	Have a look at the amazing carrying capacity of this ship and then the year built!!

TYPE:SK 60/17		NAME: Oil Onyx		PHOTO: Vic Gibson, Peter Taylor

GENERAL		PROPULSION		CARGO CAPACITY
Length OA	60.0 m	Engines	2 x B&W Alpha	Fuel	527 m3
Breadth	14.4 m	BHP/kW	4240/3120	Pot water	626 m3
DWT	2120 t	For'd Thrusters	2 x 500 bhp	Mud	405 m3
Deck area	446.25 m2	Az Thruster		Base oil
		Aft Thrusters	1 x 600 bhp	Brine
Year built	1982	Joystick	Poscon	Dry bulk	192 m3
Shipyard	Paul Lindenau	DP		Tank Cleaning
Previous names	Stout Truck
Comments

TYPE: UT 706 L		NAME: Oil Tracer		PHOTO: Tony Poll, Torleif Klokset

GENERAL		PROPULSION		CARGO CAPACITY
Length OA	84.6 m	Engines	2 x MAK	Fuel	1358 m3
Breadth	17.5 m	BHP/kW	5400/3970	Pot water	1256 m3
DWT	3325 t	For'd Thrusters	2 x 800 bhp	Mud	906 m3
Deck area	663 m2	Az Thruster	-	Base oil	-
		Aft Thrusters	2 x 800 bhp	Brine	-
Year built	1986	Joystick	Ulstein	Dry bulk	382 m3
Shipyard	Sterkoder	DP	-	Tank Cleaning	-
Previous names	British Viking, Balder Grip, Lowland Prowler
Comments	-

TYPE: Edda Type		NAME: Oil Trader		PHOTO:

GENERAL		PROPULSION		CARGO CAPACITY
Length OA	71.2 m	Engines	2 x MAK	Fuel	922 m3
Breadth	17.5 m	BHP/kW	4800/3530	Pot water	766 m3
DWT	2717 t	For'd Thrusters	2 x 600 bhp	Mud	406 m3
Deck area	609 m2	Az Thruster	-	Base oil	-
		Aft Thrusters	2 x 600 bhp	Brine	-
Year built	1981	Joystick	Simrad	Dry bulk	350 m3
Shipyard	Hjorungavaag	DP	ADP200	Tank Cleaning	-
Previous names	Edda Fram, Edda Freya
Comments	The only picture we have is one taken after the ship had collided with a platform off Nigeria which was circulated on the internet.

TYPE: ME 202		NAME: Oil Traveller		PHOTO: Dubravko Eliz, George Craigen

GENERAL		PROPULSION		CARGO CAPACITY
Length OA	67.2 m	Engines	4 x Wartsila 8R22	Fuel	1020 m3
Breadth	16.8 m	BHP/kW	6960/5120	Pot water	1155 m3
DWT	2959 t	For'd Thrusters	2 x 900 bhp	Mud	124 m3
Deck area	572 m2	Az Thruster	-	Base oil	-
		Aft Aziprops	2 x 2000 bhp	Brine	-
Year built	1983	Joystick	Poscon	Dry bulk	398 m3
Shipyard	Liaaen Skipsverft	DP	-	Tank Cleaning	-
Previous names	Atlantic Rolgo, Atlantic Denholm, Loch Carron
Comments	-

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The details of vessels have been compiled from a number of sources and are not guaranteed to be correct. All photographs remain the property of the photographer and may not be used for any commercial purpose, either in print or electronically without permission. The articles contained on the site remain the intellectual property of the authors and must not be reproduced in part or in full without permission.