Blue Thunder (Aurora Thunder)
New name: Aurora Thunder. Originally build as a medium-sized platform supply vessel with an optimum combination of fuel efficiency and deadweight, and a capacity and performance close to larger PSVs. In 2023, she is undergoing a conversion to Emergency Response Rescue Vessel (ERRV).
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 Thunder' was delivered to BSI on Monday 13 May 2013. Named at Ulstein Verft, lady sponsor Torild Bugge. The vessel was purchased by NAO on 1 November 2013, and renamed 'NAO Thunder'.
Ulstein's decision to focus on this ship type resulted from careful market analysis. The vessels have an optimum combination of fuel efficiency and deadweight, and a capacity and performance that approaches those of larger PSVs. They can take on most of the tasks usually handled by slightly larger PSVs but at a lower operating cost.
Milestones
2013: The first six vessels were acquired by Nordic American Offshore (NAO) on 1 November 2013. Blue Prosper was renamed NAO Prosper.
2015: Two more vessels of the same design, 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 "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 who was owned by Hermitage Offshore are sold to Borealis Maritime.
Later this year, 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: Aurora Thunder has been sold to Wagenborg and will be converted to a multi-purpose, Emergency Response Rescue Vessel with accommodation for at least 20 and with an AHC crane, to support subsea activities and decommissioning operations in the Southern North Sea.