A FORMER Bass Strait offshore supply ship whose owners collapsed last year is destined for a new career in Asian waters for a new owner and charterer.
Last month Tek-Ocean Spirit was acquired by Atlantic Oceanic LLC, a US offshore wind energy company also active in the UK and expanding in Asia. The now-named Atlantic Spirit is now reported fixed for four years to Connecticut-based ThayerMahan for offshore wind-related work in Asia.
Interestingly, ThayerMahan’s website describes the company as also providing whale monitoring for vessel transit, acoustic sciences, subsea infrastructure, commercial vessel monitoring and defense and intelligence services.
After years of rig supply work in Bass Strait in 2021 Tek-Ocean Spirit underwent its mandatory five-year docking and survey in Singapore, at which time it was fitted with a 60-tonne capacity crane to increase its versatility in the offshore market.
It subsequently worked on projects including the installation of artificial reef components, geotechnical surveys in Bass Strait and the transportation of a barge and workboat from Newcastle to Norfolk Island.
However, on 6 June 2023 Tek-Ocean Group Ltd was placed in administration and the company unsuccessfully offered for sale as a going concern. Tek-Ocean Spirit has been laid-up at Barrys Beach, Gippsland since then but under its new name and the Belize flag is expected to depart for the Philippines soon.
Atlantic Oceanic said the partnership with ThayerMahan “is set to enhance both companies’ presence in the burgeoning offshore wind and renewable energy market across Asia and the Far East”. Atlantic Spirit is to begin programmed survey and support operations extending from Taiwan to Singapore, in June.
