Viking wins $45m deal

expat network

The contract award will keep anchor handler Vidar Viking employed in the Russian Far East has been agreed by Viking Supply Ships.

The contract for eight months will have options for a further six months is worth around $45m.

Viking does not name the charterer but as the vessel has been working in recent years for Sakhalin Energy it appears to be with this company.

Viking said the final option of its existing contract had been exercised and would provide work for the 18,300-bhp Vidar Viking (built 2001) up to December of this year when the newly agreed contract would begin.

The 205-tbp Vidar Viking is an icebreaking AHTS with Viking saying the new deal reflects the company’s experience in working in cold waters.

Viking Supply Ships is part of Gothenburg based and Stockholm quoted Rederi AB TransAtlantic headed by Norwegian shipowner and investor Christen Sveaas.

A German subsidiary of Siem Offshore has meanwhile been awarded a turnkey supply and installation package for cables for the Veja Mate offshore wind farm.

Siem Offshore Contractors GmbH estimated the value of the deal at €100m ($108m) and said it highlighted the continued growth of the offshore renewable energy market for the company.

Veja Mate is located in the German Bight some 115km offshore.

Source: Trade Wind News

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Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.