DeepOcean, Rem Offshore, Myklebust Shipyard land their largest contracts ever thanks to Equinor

Norwegian ocean services provider DeepOcean has secured what it says is its largest contract on record which includes the provision of subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) for compatriot state-owned energy company Equinor, keeping it busy for eight years, from 2027 to 2035.

DeepOcean said the contract would set a new benchmark for digitalized and environmentally friendly IMR operations and includes IMR services for Equinor-operated assets on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) and in Europe.

The relationship between the two companies is said to route back to DeepOcean’s inception in 1999 and the start of its IMR activities in 2006. According to DeepOcean, with the recent award, this relationship will continue into its fourth decade.

“This is a major milestone in DeepOcean’s history. We are extremely proud to be awarded this unique long-term commitment. The contract enables us to invest time and resources into our next generation subsea services offering to Equinor. This is a testament to decades of hard work laid down by our on- and offshore employees to perform high quality IMR services,” said Øyvind Mikaelsen, CEO of DeepOcean.

As part of the contract, DeepOcean will charter a newbuild vessel from Rem Offshore for the duration of the contract period. As Rem Offshore said, this eight-year charter agreement, which includes additional extension options, involves the construction of an ST 245 IMR vessel at Myklebust Shipyard, set for delivery in 2027.

Rem Ocean will have dual-fuel engines capable of running on bio-methanol and biodiesel, along with a battery energy storage system and regenerative energy systems.

“The vessel, which will serve as a platform for the contract, is projected to achieve a 90 percent reduction in emissions when operating on bio-methanol and a 30 percent reduction when using conventional fuels compared to existing IMR vessels. Additionally, it will be optimized for remote operations, facilitating for reduced need for marine and project crews offshore,” said Olaf A. Hansen, Managing Director of DeepOcean Europe.

The 111.7-meter-long vessel, developed as a collaboration between DeepOcean, Rem Offshore, Skipsteknisk and other key suppliers, will be equipped with an autonomous inspection drone (AID), set to accelerate the digitalization of subsea asset inspection.

It will be equipped with a 250-ton electrical crane, two electric work-class remotely operated vehicles (WROVs) in hangars, a 1,000-square meter outside deck area, and an inside hangar area of 350 square meters, in addition to accommodation for 120 people.

Additionally, Rem Offshore already has another large subsea vessel under construction at the same shipyard with delivery in 2026.

Rem Offshore and Myklebust Shipyard both emphasized the importance of the contracts, both claiming that they are their largest in history: “The charter agreement with DeepOcean is the largest in Rem’s history, increasing our order backlog to nearly NOK 6 billion,” said Lars Conradi Andersen, CEO of Rem Offshore.

“The vessel, named Rem Ocean, will be the 83rd ship built by Myklebust Shipyard, which also has an option to build a second, similar vessel for Rem Offshore,” Leiv Sindre Muren, CEO of Myklebust Shipyard, said, emphasizing that the contract is the largest in the shipyard’s history.

“The construction of Rem Ocean is a vital contribution to local value creation and job growth. For Myklebust Shipyard, it extends our order backlog, creates new opportunities, and presents exciting technological challenges.”