SAINT JOHN, NB:    Atlantic Towing, Limited (ATL) has purchased a new state-of-the-art Anchor Handling Offshore Supply vessel from JAYA, and is expected to take delivery of the vessel during the first quarter of 2014.  Atlantic Merlin will generate twenty-four new jobs to crew the new ship.

This vessel is a Wartsila designed VS 4622 CD anchor handling offshore supply vessel and is the sister ship to the recently acquired Atlantic Kestrel which is currently serving off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.  The Atlantic Merlin has 16300 brake horsepower from its main engines and the new ship is also Ice Class 1A giving it the ability to navigate in moderate level ice conditions and northern regions. The ship has been designed to Norwegian Maritime Directorate standards (highest in world for offshore vessels) and carries the Clean Design (CD) designation from Det Norske Veritas (DNV classification society).

The state-of-the-art ship has been constructed with a variety of features incorporating the latest offshore technology available. These features include:

• 400 tonne anchor handling/ towing winch
• Anchor handling tools (centering devices, rail cranes)
• Oil recovery capability
• DP2 dynamic positioning system

The new vessel is designed specifically for offshore support and is capable of oil rig towing, oil rig positioning and anchor handling, offshore oilfield supply, stand-by rescue, and iceberg towing/ ice management. It is capable of carrying large quantities of cargo to offshore installations with a large deck area and deck strength as well as a high volume of cargo tank space.

"This is the only 1A ice class offshore supply vessel currently under construction in the world today and further enhances our capability to pursue and serve emerging offshore oil and gas projects in harsh conditions and Arctic waters. The size and overall capability of this ship will enable Atlantic Towing to access new markets and continue to grow with our existing customers." said Wayne Power, Vice President of Irving Transportation and Logistics.
 
Detailed vessel specifications of Atlantic Merlin are as follows:

Length:  85.20 metres
Beam:  22.00 metres
Deck Area:  750 m²
Winch:  400 tonne, double drum waterfall
Deadweight:  4400 tonnes
Main Engine:  2x 8150 bhp
Bollard Pull:  211 tonnes
Ice Class:  1A
Fire Fighting Class:  1 with 2 x 1200 m³/hour plus self-protection deluge
Anchor Handling equipment (cranes, centering devices)
CP propeller propulsion system
Electric motor drive transverse tunnel thrusters – bow and stern