The platform supply vessel Far Solitaire, built by VARD Langsten in Norway for Farstad Shipping, was elected Ship of the Year 2012. The annual Ship of the Year award recognizes outstanding vessels delivered from a Norwegian yard, and is instituted by major Norwegian shipping magazine Skipsrevyen.
In february 2013, Far Solitaire was also rewarded Support Vessel of the Year on the Annual Offshore Support Journal conference in London.
Far Solitaire is a chemical tanker compliant supply vessel, which was the main reason for the jury to elect this vessel as Ship of the Year 2012. The technologically advanced vessel has been developed by Farstad Shipping in close co-operation with Rolls-Royce Marine and is the first PSV of this type ever built. Delivery will take place from VARD Langsten in October.
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, while restrictions for offshore disposal of the same have become more stringent for environmental reasons. These liquids need to be transported to and from offshore installations, which requires Platform Supply Vessels fit for this purpose. A conventional offshore supply vessel defined by the rules as a cargo vessel is limited to carry a maximum of 800 m3 of these liquids on board at a time.
VARD first announced the contract for this newbuild on 18 November 2010 as part of an agreement to build four vessels for Farstad Shipping. The Group currently has eleven vessels under construction for this long-standing client.
This year’s award marks the seventh time since 2000 that a vessel built by VARD has been awarded the title Ship of the Year. In 2009, the Multifunctional Plough/Tug/Supply/Subsea Service Vessel Far Samson, also delivered from VARD Langsten to Farstad Shipping, won the coveted prize.