Netherlands-based companies Vriezoo ROV Services and Mark Offshore have merged to form a new entity specialising in subsea services.
FreeStar Subsea Services will offer remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and survey support services using its recently acquired and outfitted vessel Navicula Star. The vessel was previously operated by the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.
Navicula Star is fitted with an onboard ROV, accommodations for 11 people, a crane, two davits, and an A-frame with several winches for deploying and recovering a variety of loads into or out of the water. An ROV control and survey desk are located inside at deck level for easy access to the working deck.
With a draught of only one metre, the vessel is also capable of beaching.
Although Navicula Star is a diesel-powered vessel, it will also be capable of running on biofuel such as HVO.
FreeStar aims to offer a selection of services including bathymetric and geotechnical surveys, cable protection, and burial operations. In addition to Navicula Star, the FreeStar fleet is composed of five offshore and four inshore ROV systems.