Blue Protector (Aurora Protector)
New name: Aurora Protector. A medium-sized platform supply vessel with an optimum combination of fuel efficiency and deadweight, and a capacity and performance that approaches those of larger PSVs. It can take on most of the tasks usually handled by slightly larger PSVs, but at a lower operating cost.
Primary Specifications
Additional Data
Ship history
The ship investment company Blue Ship Invest (BSI), a part of Ulstein Group, ordered ten platform supply vessels of the PX121 design in the period 2010-2014. Eight were acquired by Nordic American Offshore (NAO). These have later been sold to various ship owners.
'Blue Protector' was delivered to BSI on Monday 23 September 2013. She was named in the Geiranger fjord by lady sponsor Torill Ytreberg, regional director at the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). After delivery, the vessel went off to work in the spot market in the North Sea.
This is the final of the first six vessels ordered by Blue Ship Invest. The latest vessels in the first series were adapted to requirements for work in the Norwegian sector. That includes more power in order to keep position in foul weather at the rig, and NOx reduction for the exhaust emissions. In addition, the latest vessels carry the light ice-class (ICE-C), to be prepared for work further north.
The first PSV in this series was delivered from Ulstein Verft in 2012. Blue Ship Invest, a wholly-owned company in Ulstein Group, decided at the time to invest in the construction of a series of newly developed medium-sized PSV designs in order to introduce them to the market. Market surveys had shown that the size and capacity would be very attractive for various assignments.
MIlestones
2013: The first six vessels were acquired by Nordic American Offshore (NAO) on 1 November 2013. Blue Protector was renamed NAO Protector.
2015: Blue Storm and Blue Viking were acquired by Nordic American Offshore (NAO) on 26 January 2015.
2015-2016: The final two of the ten vessels, Blue Queen and Blue King, were delivered to Blue Ship Invest.
2019: Nordic American Offshore changed its name to Hermitage Offshore Services Ltd, which became effective on June 4, 2019. All the vessels changed their names to the "Hermit" prefix.
2020: All vessels in the Hermitage Offshore fleet were acquired by Pearl Bidco AS, a company owned by DNB and SEB.
2022: All vessels that were owned by Hermitage Offshore are sold to Borealis Maritime.
2022: Hermit Storm, Hermit Power, Hermit Protector and Hermit Thunder have changed owner ship and name. The new owner is Aurora Offshore and the vessels are named Aurora Storm, Aurora Power, Aurora Protector and Aurora Thunder.
2023: Still active - IMO 9665126