1.

Platform Supply Vessel (PSV)

Example: Island Commander
 Owner: Island Offshore
 Built by: Ulstein Verft, Norway
 Type: UT 776 CD PSV
 Role: Transports supplies such as drilling mud, fuel, water, cement, and
equipment to and from offshore platforms.
 Features:
o Dynamic Positioning (DP2) system

o Large open deck for cargo

o Tanks for liquid and bulk materials

o High maneuverability

🧭 Used for: Regular supply runs to fixed platforms or drilling rigs.

⚓ 2. Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel (AHTS)

Example: Bourbon Orca
 Owner: Bourbon Offshore
 Built by: Ulstein Verft, Norway
 Type: Ulstein AX104 AHTS
 Role:
o Handling anchors for oil rigs

o Towing rigs to location

o Emergency response and rescue

 Features:
o Powerful winches and towing gear

o Bollard pull of 180+ tons

o Dynamic Positioning (DP2 or DP3)

o Can also carry limited supply cargo

🧭 Used for: Positioning and securing drilling rigs or floating platforms.

Would you like me to include images or labeled diagrams of a PSV and an AHTS
vessel next?
You said:
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLATFORM SUPPLY VESSEL AND SUPLLY VESSEL
ChatGPT said:
Good question — the difference between a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) and a
general Supply Vessel (SV) often confuses people because the terms sound
similar.
Here’s a clear and structured comparison 👇

⚓ DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLATFORM SUPPLY VESSEL (PSV) AND SUPPLY

VESSEL (SV)

Paramet
Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) Supply Vessel (SV)
er

A specialized type of offshore supply

A general term for any vessel
vessel designed specifically to
Definitio that carries supplies, which can
transport supplies and equipment to
n include PSVs, AHTS vessels, or
and from offshore oil & gas
other logistics ships.
platforms.

To provide supplies and logistics

To support offshore drilling platforms by
support in various maritime
Purpose delivering fuel, drilling mud, cement,
operations — not limited to oil
water, and other consumables.
platforms.

Design depends on mission —

Has a large open deck area for
may have storage holds, cranes,
Design cargo, with below-deck tanks for liquid
or towing gear depending on
and bulk materials.
type.

Equipped with Dynamic Positioning May or may not have DP —

Equipme
(DP) system for precision near offshore depends on operational
nt
structures. requirements.

Specially designed tanks for liquid, Cargo type varies — can include
Cargo
bulk, and dry materials; large deck containers, general goods, or
Capacity
for equipment. specific offshore materials.

Can operate in ports, coastal

Operatio Works primarily around offshore oil
areas, or offshore — depending
n Area platforms and drilling rigs.
on type.

Example Island Commander, Siem Symphony, General cargo supply vessels,

s VOS Partner crew supply vessels, AHTS
Paramet
Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) Supply Vessel (SV)
er

vessels, PSVs, etc.

✅ In Short:
 Every PSV is a Supply Vessel,
 But not every Supply Vessel is a PSV — it’s a broader category that
includes PSVs, AHTS (Anchor Handling Tug Supply), DSVs (Diving Support
Vessels), and more.

Would you like me to make an image or diagram showing this difference visually
(with both vessels side by side)?
You said:
YES
ChatGPT said:

Share
You said:
what is the work of psv
ChatGPT said:
The work of a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) is to transport supplies,
equipment, and personnel between onshore bases and offshore oil & gas
platforms or drilling rigs.
Here’s a detailed breakdown 👇

⚙️Main Functions of a PSV

Function Description

Transporting Carries fuel (diesel), drilling mud, brine, and water to offshore
Function Description

Liquid Cargo platforms.

🧱 Carrying Dry & Delivers dry materials like cement, barite, and chemicals
Bulk Cargo stored in special tanks.

📦 Deck Cargo Large open deck space used for heavy machinery, pipes,
Transport containers, and equipment.

🚹 Personnel Some PSVs carry a small number of offshore crew and

Transfer technicians.

⚓ Backload Brings back waste materials, empty containers, or used drilling

Operations fluids from the platform to shore.

🌊 Dynamic Uses thrusters and sensors to maintain a fixed position near

Positioning (DP) offshore structures during loading/unloading.

🧭 In Simple Words:
A PSV acts as a lifeline between the shore and offshore oil platforms,
supplying everything they need to keep drilling and production running smoothly.

Would you like me to show this in a diagram form (how a PSV supports an offshore
platform)?
You said:
ANCHOR HANDLING tug supply
ChatGPT said:
An excellent topic — let’s break down what an Anchor Handling Tug Supply
(AHTS) vessel is and what work it does 👇

⚓ ANCHOR HANDLING TUG SUPPLY (AHTS) VESSEL

🔹 Definition:
An Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel (AHTS) is a multi-purpose offshore
vessel designed mainly for:
 Handling and towing anchors for oil rigs, drilling units, and other floating
structures.
 Towing rigs to new locations.
 Transporting supplies and equipment to offshore sites.
It combines the power of a tugboat with the storage and supply capabilities of a
supply vessel.

⚙️Main Functions of an AHTS Vessel

Function Description

Deploys, retrieves, and positions large anchors that keep

⚓ Anchor Handling
semi-submersible rigs or barges in place.

🚢 Towing Tows drilling rigs, barges, and other offshore structures to

Operations and from their locations.

Carries fuel, water, drilling mud, and other materials to

🧱 Supply Duties
offshore units, similar to a PSV.

🪝 Winch & Wire Equipped with powerful winches and towing wires for
Operations heavy-duty operations (often 100–300 tons bollard pull).

🚨 Emergency & Acts as a standby vessel during emergencies—firefighting,

Rescue Operations oil spill response, and rescue.

🧭 Dynamic Most modern AHTS vessels have DP systems for accurate

Positioning (DP) positioning during anchor work.

🔩 Key Equipment Onboard

 Heavy-duty towing winches and storage drums for wire ropes.
 Stern rollers and anchor handling cranes for deploying anchors safely.
 Towing pins and Shark jaws to grip or release chains and wires securely.
 Firefighting systems (Fi-Fi 1 or Fi-Fi 2 class).
 Dynamic Positioning (DP2 or DP3) systems.

🚢 Examples of AHTS Vessels

 Bourbon Orca (Ulstein AX104 design)
 Far Sapphire
 Maersk Handler
 Siem Topaz

✅ In Simple Words:
An AHTS vessel is the workhorse of offshore operations —
it tows rigs, sets up anchors, supplies equipment, and acts as a rescue
vessel when needed.

Would you like me to make an illustrated diagram showing how an AHTS vessel
handles an anchor and supports a drilling rig?
You said:
tell me more about it
ChatGPT said:
Perfect 👍 — here’s a detailed and easy-to-understand explanation of the
Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) Vessel, covering how it’s built, how it
works, and what makes it one of the most powerful types of offshore ships.

⚓ Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) Vessel – In Detail

🧭 1. Overview
An AHTS vessel is a multi-role offshore vessel that performs anchor handling,
towing, and supply operations for offshore drilling rigs, floating production units,
and barges.
These vessels are built to operate in harsh offshore environments — from
tropical seas to Arctic regions.
Think of it as the “muscle ship” of offshore oil and gas operations.

⚙️2. Main Functions

a. Anchor Handling
 Semi-submersible rigs and drilling barges use massive anchors (each
weighing 10–20 tons) to stay in place.
 The AHTS vessel carries these anchors on its stern deck and lays them
out on the seabed in a precise pattern.
 It uses winches, wires, and towing pins to deploy and recover the anchors
safely.
🪝 Key Feature:
A stern roller — a large rotating drum at the back — helps guide heavy anchor
chains smoothly into the water.
b. Towing Operations
 When a drilling rig needs to move to another site, it can’t move by itself.
 AHTS vessels attach towing wires to the rig and tow it across the sea,
sometimes hundreds of kilometers.
 They also assist in positioning the rig when it reaches the new location.
⚙️Power:
Most AHTS vessels have powerful engines (10,000–25,000 horsepower) and
bollard pull (towing force) of 100–300 tons.

c. Supply & Logistics

 Like a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV), the AHTS also carries materials such
as:
o Drilling mud

o Fuel and freshwater

o Cement and chemicals

o Spare parts and equipment

 It transports these supplies to the offshore rigs.

d. Emergency & Safety Duties

AHTS vessels are also used for:
 Firefighting (equipped with Fi-Fi systems)
 Rescue and recovery operations
 Oil spill control
 Emergency towing if a vessel loses power
These ships are designed to act quickly in critical situations, often doubling as
standby safety vessels.

🧩 3. Main Equipment Onboard

Equipment Purpose

Heavy-duty winches to handle steel wires and

Towing Winches
chains.

Stern Roller Helps guide anchors and chains during deployment

Equipment Purpose

or retrieval.

Mechanisms that grip and release anchor chains

Shark Jaws & Towing Pins
safely.

Deck Crane For lifting anchors, wires, and equipment.

Dynamic Positioning Keeps vessel steady while handling anchors or

System (DP2/DP3) towing.

Firefighting System (Fi-Fi Mounted water cannons to fight fires on other

1/2) vessels or platforms.

🌊 4. Design Features
 Sturdy hull for stability in rough seas.
 High freeboard (height above water) to prevent water from washing over
the deck.
 Reinforced working deck to handle very heavy loads.
 Accommodation areas for up to 40–60 crew members.
 Navigation & control systems that allow precision operations near
platforms.

5. Real-Life Examples

Vessel
Owner/Operator Features
Name

Bourbon First Ulstein X-Bow design, DP2

Bourbon Offshore
Orca system

Maersk Maersk Supply 24,000 HP, advanced towing

Handler Service system

Far Sapphire Solstad Offshore Fi-Fi 2, DP2, high bollard pull

Siem Topaz Siem Offshore Arctic-capable, rescue certified

✅ 6. Importance in Offshore Operations

Without AHTS vessels:
 Rigs couldn’t be moved or anchored.
  Offshore installations would drift.
 Emergencies at sea would be harder to control.
They are essential for the setup, stability, and safety of almost all offshore oil
and gas operations.