Edison Chouest Offshore’s North American Shipbuilding subsidiary has delivered the ice class anchor handler Aiviq to Shell Exploration and Production. She is one of the most technically advanced polar class vessels in the world, and the first of her kind to be built in the US.
The 360ft by 80ft vessel was completed to American Bureau of Shipping A3 class specifications, meaning she is capable of breaking ice one metre thick at a speed of five knots. Propulsion machinery consists of four CAT C280-12 diesels rated at 5,444bhp each, giving an open water service speed of 15 knots. Costing over $200 million to build, Aiviq has accommodation for 64 and a fuel oil capacity of 528,155 gallons.
