Hamek receives MLU contract for Norwegian multi-purpose tug Harstad

Norwegian Coast Guard salvage and rescue tug KV Harstad will undergo MLU at Hamek shipyard. (NAVYPIX/Richard Scott)

Norwegian shipbuilder Harstad Mek Verksted (Hamek) has been awarded a contract for the mid-life upgrade (MLU) of the Norwegian Coast Guard's multi-purpose Ulstein UT 512 salvage and rescue tug, KV Harstad (W 318).

Work is to be completed under a contract worth NOK235 million (USD22 million), announced by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence on 21 August.

Designed by Rolls-Royce and built by Aker Yards (later STX and VARD), Harstad has been in service with the Norwegian Coast Guard since 2005, initially under lease from Remøy Shipping and then acquired in 2008. The ship has an estimated service life of 30 years.

Harstad is used for various coastguard and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) management roles, including offshore search and rescue, firefighting, salvage, pollution prevention, general law enforcement operations, and fishery control. The ship is also used to refuel the outposts on Jan Mayen, Bjørnøya (Bear Island), and Hopen.

In an emergency, the ship is capable of towing large oil tankers and can recover up to 12,000 m³ of oil following a spill. It is also capable of operating the NATO Submarine Rescue System and remotely controlled vehicles.

Harstad has a full load displacement of 3,180 tonnes, an overall length of 83 m, a top speed of 19 kt, and carries a crew complement of 26. It is armed with a Bofors 40 mm gun.