U.S. operator boosts fleet with three more offshore supply vessels

U.S. offshore vessel operator Hornbeck Offshore has added three offshore supply vessels (OSVs) to its fleet following an auction carried out by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD). The vessels are candidates for deployment in the U.S. offshore wind industry and other non-oilfield applications.

Hornbeck Offshore announced on Monday that it had acquired three high-spec, new generation OSVs from the Unites States Maritime Administration (MARAD) for an undisclosed amount of cash.  

Todd Hornbeck, Hornbeck Offshore’s President and Chief Executive Officer, remarked: “We believe these modern, state-of-the-art, high-spec, diesel-electric OSVs are great additions to our growing fleet.”

The vessel operator confirms that all three of the vessels that were acquired at auction are U.S.-flagged, Jones Act-qualified, 280 class DP-2 OSVs with capacities of circa 4,600 DWT. Hornbeck expects to conduct reactivation and regulatory drydockings of all three vessels upon taking physical delivery of OSVs from MARAD. Hornbeck has not revealed the names of the three vessels.

“Built by Eastern Shipbuilding in 2013 and 2014 to a design specification and with components that are very compatible with our other ‘Tiger Shark Class’ vessels, these particular ships are excellent candidates for deployment in the growing U.S. domestic offshore wind industry, as well as for potential conversion to military or other non-oilfield, non-wind speciality applications,” added Hornbeck.

This is not the first addition to Hornbeck’s fleet this year, as the firm inked a deal in January 2022 to acquire ten OSVs from affiliates of Edison Chouest Offshore in pursuit of further growth and diversification of its fleet and business.

Serial deliveries of all ten vessels are expected to take place over the next 12 to 15 months.