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Grampian Don Launched by Craig Group’s Fourth Generation

Samantha Craig, the fourth generation of family-owned shipping and energy services business - Craig Group, today (Thursday) launched the latest addition to the group’s fleet.

The Grampian Don is the first of four new “D” class emergency response and rescue vessels ordered by Craig Group earlier this year, representing a £35 million investment.

The investment will see four new vessels, take to the waves in 2011 and 2012, creating 120 jobs in the North Sea marine sector and further modernising the group’s fleet, operated by North Star Shipping.

These new vessels will replace existing tonnage in the group’s 31-strong fleet, making it the largest, most modern, wholly-owned British fleet engaged in the UK offshore industry.

The emergency response and rescue vessels will be designated NSS-IMT 950s, designed by IMT of Montrose and equipped with daughter craft and fast rescue craft

Miss Craig, group corporate communications manager, formally launched the new vessel at the Balenciaga Shipyard in Northern Spain, which is the 16th vessel to be built there

She said: “It was a real honour to launch the Grampian Don. The group is justifiably proud of its investments in the fleet in recent years which now tops £165million. By providing the most modern emergency response and rescue vessels with the latest technology, we aim to meet our customers’ needs in terms of safety, quality and efficiency.”

This £35 million investment follows on from a £130 million programme by the Craig Group, which began in 2003 and was completed with the delivery of the Grampian Citadel late last year.

The multi-million-pound investment has paid off, with all vessels commissioned to date going straight into long-term charter contracts.

The North Star fleet currently provides services to more than 45 installations in the North Sea.

Callum Bruce, managing director of North Star, added: “We have had a tremendous period of investment in the fleet which cements our position as a leader in the provision of state-of-the art vessels to support the UK offshore industry and its employees. This position is further enhanced by our living safety culture that prevails throughout our organisation from our crews to our onshore personnel.”

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