Marco Polo Marine orders two AHTS newbuilds for southeast Asia

Following in the wake of a contract to build a commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) at its own shipyard, Marco Polo Marine has ordered two new anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels primarily designed to support oil and gas activities in Southeast Asia.

With a combined value of approximately US$34M, these AHTSs are expected to join the Singapore-listed owner’s fleet in 2026. A spokesperson for the company confirmed to OSJ that one of the AHTSs would be built in China and the other at Marco Polo Marine’s shipyard in Batam, Indonesia.

One of the AHTS newbuilds will be owned by Marco Polo Marine’s 71% indirect subsidiary, PT Pelayaran Nasional Bina Buana Raya Tbk (PT BBR). This DP-2-class vessel will have an overall length of 60.8 m, a beam of 16 m, a bollard pull of 80 tonnes, 6,000 of brake horsepower (BHP), and Fire Fighting Class 1 (FiFi 1) capabilities. This vessel will be built in China.

The second, more powerful AHTS newbuild, will be built at Marco Polo Marine’s shipyard and will have an overall length of 76 m, a beam of 18.5 m, a bollard pull of 135 tonnes, and 10,800 BHP. It, too, will be designed with DP-2 and FiFi 1 class systems. It will be registered under the Singapore flag.

"The addition of these two new AHTS vessels marks a significant step in our fleet renewal and expansion strategy," said Marco Polo Marine chief executive Sean Lee. “These vessels, with their expected completion in 2026, will enhance our ability to serve a broader range of clients and support both traditional oil and gas operations and the rapidly growing offshore wind sector.”

These latest additions will increase the group’s fleet to 21 vessels.

In early September, OWJ reported Marco Polo Marine’s Taiwan-based subsidiary PKR Offshore had signed a contract for a ‘CSOV Plus’ newbuild for construction at Marco Polo Shipyard Pte Ltd in Batam, Indonesia.