DOF to add more muscle to fleet with deal for powerful AHTSs

DOF Group has agreed to purchase two of the most powerful anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTSs) in the offshore sector. Both vessels are part of the Aurora Offshore fleet. The two biggest shareholders of Aurora are Borealis Maritime Group and Siem Offshore.

DOF said the net investment from the transactions is approximately US$100M, of which approximately US$30M is expected to be cash, and the rest is financed with available debt funding.

Built in 2011, the two STX AH 12 CD design AHTSs, Aurora Saltfjord and Aurora Sandefjord, each have a bollard pull of almost 400 tonnes, making them among the most powerful AHTS vessels globally. Both 34,000-hp vessels are suited for seabed operations, ploughing/trenching and prelay work. Both are fitted with an ROV hangar and ODIM LARS system for handling inspection- and work-class ROVs used in underwater operations.

In conjunction with this transaction and its strategy to upgrade its fleet, DOF has agreed to sell 2010-built AHTS Skandi Laser (ex Maersk Laser), with a bollard pull of 252 tonnes, subject to final documentation. The vessel has recently been working on a subsea project in West Africa and in the spot market. Skandi Laser joined the DOF fleet in 2024 as part of the company’s acquisition of Maersk Supply Service.

The divestment of Skandi Laser is expected to result in a gain on book value of approximately US$12M to be recorded in Q2 2026.

“Through these transactions, we further enhance DOF’s position as a leading player in the high-end AHTS market. This is a vessel segment which is core to our strategy of being a leading player for mooring projects globally, and Skandi Saltfjord and Skandi Sandefjord will add valuable capacity to deliver integrated offshore services to our clients,” said DOF Group chief executive Mons S Aase.

Added Mr Aase, “The AHTS market has lagged the broader subsea vessel market somewhat, and we now see clear signs that the AHTS market is catching up, driven by strong demand across geographies. We already have a project backlog for Skandi Skansen in 2027, showing that clients are securing this type of critical capacity earlier than previously, and we further see a strong pipeline of prospects that suit high-end AHTS vessels.”

DOF has been upgrading the tonnage in its fleet through S&P transactions. It sold three smaller and older vessels last year.

Both vessels will be added to the DOF fleet this year, with Aurora Sandefjord due to be delivered in April, and Aurora Saltfjord in a June/July timeframe.

While the new owner will take delivery of Skandi Laser in May 2026, DOF will continue to manage the vessel.

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