Ship Photos of the Day – One of the Strangest-Looking Ships Ever

The Ramform Atlas has to be one of the strangest-looking ships ever built. It is one of two new vessels in the Ramform Titan class of 3D seismic survey vessels belonging to Petroleum Geo-Services, an Oslo-based seismic data acquisition company.

Its unique design, reminiscent of the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars, was developed with one single purpose in mind – collecting the maximum amount of seismic data quickly, safely and reliably.

The ‘Ramform’ hull shape, first developed in 1995, features a vast back deck that is ‘perfect’ for installing and towing seismic equipment. The Ramform Titan class, the largest Ramform vessels yet, are designed with 70-meter beam and 24 reals for a capacity of up to 22 streamers.

Today, there are a total of ten Ramform vessels in operation around the world. Ramform Atlas, along with sister vessel Ramform Titan, were launched in 2013 and another two Titan-class vessels will be launched in 2015, according to the PGS website.

Here’s the vessel with its Ramform Atlas with its helipad lit up as it awaits the arrival a helicopter for the medical evacuation of a crewmember earlier this month off the coast of Spain.

Photos courtesy Salvamento Maritimo (second two) and PGC (first three)

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up