APRIL 2, 2013 — A project that started with an anonymous request to Norwegian ship designer Marin Teknikk has resulted in shipbuilder Kleven winning a contract from the still undisclosed owner to build a 107 m Expedition Support Vessel to a new Marin Teknikk design.

Meeting the latest Passenger Yacht Code rules, adapted for larger yachts with more than 12 passengers, the vessel is designed for long expeditions in rough waters and blends a robust, hard-working character with luxurious added extras, including a swimming pool and its own 21 m tender boat on the bow. It is to be equipped with a helipad and helicopter hangar.

The new vessel will be built at Kleven's Ulsteinvikk, Norway, shipyard and will accommodate 60 people. Delivery is scheduled for December 2014.

"Our first contact with the owners was back at the end of April 2012. We got an anonymous request and we started to exchange information which soon ended up in meetings and design agreement," says Richard K. Gjerde, Sales Director of Marin Teknikk. "The client, with the assistance of an experienced designer, presented a concept including General Arrangement and Exterior Styling before final design was chosen and all details agreed. Much work has been spent in the design and sales work period, but we feel very proud now when we see the results. We are also very happy for doing this together with Kleven and the client's team."

"One year ago Marin Teknikk was contacted by the shipowners asking if we would design a so-called Expedition Support Vessel," says Svein Rune Gjerde, CEO of Marin Teknikk. "It has been exciting to be able to utilise the know-how of our employees to interact with the clients designers to develop a luxury vessel of this type, which is being constructed for a rather different use than the offshore vessels we usually work with on a daily basis."

"This will be a different and interesting project for our design team, to use the information from the client and integrate this with our knowledge," adds Mr. Gjerde. "The know-how that underpins the development of this vessel is much the same as it is for our successful offshore vessels, but new regulations and specifications have made this an exciting and challenging project."

"We have worked with Marin Teknikk for many years, developing numerous offshore vessels together, and the collaboration between us always works well," says Ståle Rasmussen, CEO of Kleven. "This vessel is a good example of our ability to develop and build specialized vessels and prototypes."

"The shipowners chose us because they wanted Norwegian design and construction at Norwegian shipyards, due to quality standards, delivery times and price," adds Mr. Rasmussen. "We are delighted to have won the competition based on these criteria."