ABS to Class its First Japanese-Flagged Vessel

Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel will be built to ABS class for Offshore Japan Corporation by Japan Marine United, Image: ABS

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has been selected by Offshore Japan Corporation (OJC) to class its newly ordered anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel, the first Japanese-flagged vessel ever built to ABS class.

The 150 ton bollard pull, DP-2 AHTS will be built by Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) with a scheduled delivery in February 2016.

Akira Akiyama, ABS Vice President, Japan, said:

“We are honored to have been awarded this prestigious contract by Offshore Japan Corporation to class its AHTS, which marks the first Japan-flag vessel entered into ABS class. This agreement reflects the commitment of the ABS Japan team in meeting the high standards required by both the owner and shipyard in this strategically important shipping and shipbuilding nation.”

Offshore Japan Corporation was formed in October 2013 as a 50-50 joint venture between Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (K Line Kinkai) and Offshore Operation Co., Ltd. The newbuilding will be deployed by Offshore Japan Corporation in support of resource exploration and development and maintenance of renewable energy facilities as Japan boosts offshore development to reflect changes in national energy policy.

JMU has built and delivered numerous types of offshore support vessels since the delivery of its first AHTS vessel in 2006. The shipyard is the only facility in Japan that builds both AHTS and platform supply vessels.

An increasingly busy workload saw 23 new ABS-classed ships built in Japan in 2013.  ABS notes they hold the number two position in the orderbook among Japan’s shipyards, with 70 new orders booked by year-end 2013.

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