M.V. Aiviq – icebreaking anchor handling tug and supply vessel
M.V. Aiviq was originally delivered in 20212 for long term charter to Royal Dutch Shell in order to support oil exploration and drilling in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off the coast of Alaska. Unfortunately, Shell’s exploration program was terminated in 2015 after expenditure of around US$ 7 billion with the company having suffered several operational issues and disappointing drill results. The program was also opposed by environmental groups and was subject to an increasingly uncertain U.S. regulatory framework impacting Arctic exploration.