BREMEN, Germany: June 11, 2018. Bremen-based shipping operator Harren & Partner has acquired offshore construction vessel, MV Blue Giant for an undisclosed price from the English operator, OIG Group. 

Peter Harren, Founder and Managing Director of Harren & Partner, explained the strategy behind the purchase: “Although the oil markets are currently still recovering, we have deliberately opted for this investment despite its counter-cyclical nature. Alongside our classic offshore activities, we also wish to further strengthen our position in attractive niche markets such as the salvage business, where this vessel also has possibilities for deployment."

Dr. Martin Harren, Managing Director of Harren & Partner added: “Blue Giant is a cutting-edge vessel which represents an important enhancement of our diversified H&P fleet. It extends our scope of action to provide our customers with comprehensive, yet customised solutions.”

The history of the MV Blue Giant has come full circle as it was built in 2008 to the order of Harren & Partner at Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven, Germany. It was one of the first ships to combine the functions of a dock ship with those of a Ro-Ro and heavy lift vessel. After several successful offshore and salvage projects in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Coast of the United States, the ship was sold in 2011 to the OIG Group.

Since then the vessel has been continuously under the technical management of Harren & Partner. In 2017 during the ice-free summer months the vessel was used for extensive maintenance and repair work on a gas platform in the Pechora Sea, Russia.

The vessel is equipped with a cabin block which can accommodate up to 200 people, a moon pool, a helideck and a fire fighting system capable of reaching 180 metres. Heiko Felderhoff, Managing Director of Harren & Partner, underlines the flexibility of MV Blue Giant: “It’s a highly adaptable ship that can also be used as an emergency response vessel. There are few things that it can’t do,” he enthuses.