Owners of large AHTS vessels enjoyed an incredibly positive 2022 summer season on the North Sea spot market. Demand for high-specification tonnage was particularly high, resulting in very limited availability on the spot market. The result of this was record high average day rates; GBP 141,000 in June and GBP 110,000 in July, The availability of tonnage has since increased dramatically as vessels complete their summer projects, and day rates have come down significantly as a result. Winter is on the horizon, with demand for tonnage likely to continue going down as the OSV sector enters its traditionally quiet period. Owners are likely therefore to begin considering laying up their tonnage to reduce their cost exposure as the end of 2022 approaches. We have already seen some lay-ups, with two instances recorded in September. The Loke Viking 19,040 bhp AHTS has mobilised from the UK to Sweden, to be cold stacked. The 2010-built vessel, managed by Viking Supply Ships, arrived in Uddevalla, Sweden on 16 September. It is expecetd to remain in lay-up until April 2023. Recently, the Loke Viking traded on the North Sea spot market, completing its latest fixture for CNOOC - a rig move offshore the UK - in late August. It traded the spot market in the UK continuously from April 2021, prior to which it was laid-up in Sweden from December 2020. It had been due to commence work with Van Oord in Russian waters earlier this summer, alongside three other Viking Supply Ships vessels. However the deals were ultimately cancelled as a result of economic sanctions against Russia, following the invasion of Ukraine. The Maersk Achiever 23,480 bhp AHTS, meanwhile, has entered lay-up in Fredericia, Denmark. The 2003-built vessel, managed by Maersk Supply Service, arrived in Fredericia from Aberdeen, UK in early September. Previously, it carried out a rig move offshore the UK for CNR International in July of this year, followed by an all duties assignment for an undisclosed operator in August. It is understood to have been idle since.
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