Rawabi Vallianz Offshore Services to enhance AHTS fleet with newbuild spree 

Rawabi Vallianz Offshore Services (RVOS) has newbuilding programmes underway at Chinese and southeast Asian shipbuilders that will grow the owner’s anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) fleet capability over the next three years. The Saudi owner has ordered at least 11 offshore support vessels (OSVs), including nine AHTS vessels, one maintenance vessel and one standby-safety vessel.

Sources indicate that China’s Jiangmen Hangtong has six 1,900-dwt AHTS vessels under construction for RVOS for delivery between September 2024 and November 2026.

The Chinese builder is also constructing a 4,200-dwt maintenance vessel for the owner for delivery in December 2025, according to Clarksons.

Malaysia’s Shin Yang Shipyard has three AHTS vessels on its orderbook for RVOS and has launched 6,700-bhp Rawabi 213. It expects to deliver the 2,141-dwt vessel in August. Two other AHTS vessels on order for RVOS will be delivered in 2025, one in April and the other in June.

In August, Singapore’s Marin Teknik Shipbuilders (S) Pte reported launching 48-m standby safety vessel Rawabi 136. The Singaporean shipbuilder reported it was commissioned to enhance the security vessel’s design and layout, and focused on improving the vessel’s safety functionality, and efficient use of space, including expanding its security watch house. “Our team also engineered structural modifications to boost the vessel’s resilience and water endurance capabilities,” said the shipbuilder in a social media post.

All of the newbuilds will fly the Tuvalu flag when delivered, according to Equasis.

Saudi-based RVOS is one of the largest OSV operators in the world, controlling more than 200 vessels.