Dutch company FreeStar Subsea Services acquires diesel-powered, biofuel-capable vessel SSV Navicula Star for subsea services.
Dutch subsea services company FreeStar Subsea Services, formed via the merger of Vriezoo ROV Services and Mark Offshore, has acquired its first vessel, the SSV Navicula Star. The vessel is equipped with an onboard remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and is diesel-powered but will run on biofuel such as HVO. The company plans to offer a range of subsea services including bathymetric and geotechnical surveys, cable protection, and burial operations. FreeStar aims to differentiate itself in the market with the new vessel, which can accommodate 11 people and is equipped with a crane, 2 davits, and an A-frame with several winches for deploying and/or recovering various loads. The company also plans to use SVO technology to monitor exhaust emissions and CO2 output.