Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has lined up a potential long-term contract for its flagship subsea construction vessel Normand Maximus after signing a letter of intent with an unnamed international subsea contractor. The Oslo-listed company said the deal is expected to start in the first quarter of 2027 and would run on a firm basis until the first quarter of 2029, with options that could extend the charter through to the first quarter of 2030. Under the deal, the 178-m vessel will support subsea operations worldwide. As part of the package, Solstad will also provide two work-class ROVs in cooperation with Omega Subsea, alongside full manning, tooling and survey services. Normand Maximus is the largest vessel in Solstad’s fleet. The ship has had a complex ownership path in recent years. It was acquired in 2022 by AMSC, then controlled by interests linked to Kjell Inge Røkke, before being bareboat chartered back to Solstad Offshore. Ownership later shifted as part of the Solstad restructuring, with AMSC contributing the vessel-owning entity in exchange for shares in what became Solstad Maritime. The vessel remains on bareboat charter to Solstad Offshore, which currently owns around 27% of Solstad Maritime. The latest LoI adds to improving visibility for Solstad’s high-end subsea fleet. Earlier this year, sister vessel Normand Tonjer secured a 225-day contract including mobilisation to the Asia-Pacific region, contributing around $28m to quarterly order intake. Normand Maximus is already fixed on a firm contract through to the end of November 2026, while Normand Tonjer has options keeping it covered into late December next year. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsNorway