In addition to the two contracted vessels, Smit has also taken options on two further vessels of 120 tons bollard pull. All four ships share the same basic design and represent a new standardisation process of Smit.

They have an accommodation capacity of 40 to 50 persons.

The investment will provide the company with vessels capable of performing a diverse variety of tasks. In addition to anchor handling and supply the ships can be used for a variety of salvage and maritime projects.

Provision will be made for a deck crane and an 'A -frame' and the multi-purpose nature and the flexibility of these vessels will allow them to be adapted or configured to suit the needs of each client.

The ships under construction will be twin-screw vessels of 70.9m in length and 16.0m beam with a draft of 5.6m and deck area of 450 square metres.

Two main engines will produce a total of 6,600bhp. The diving support vessel will have two bow thrusters of 1150bhp each and a single stern thruster of 750bhp.

Less powerful bow thrusters of 750bhp will be fitted to the anchor-handling supply variant.

Both tugs will be fitted with Dynamic Positioning to DP 2 standards and fire-fighting equipment to comply with FiFi 1.

Both vessels will have a twin drum winch with a 150 tonnes line pull and 250 tonnes maximum brake capacity, carrying two 1000m in long wires of 58mm diameter.

Provision will be made to accommodate 50 persons aboard the Diving Support vessel and 42 aboard the anchor-handling supply vessel.

Smit chose Keppel Singmarine for the construction of these vessels due to the yard's expertise with this type of ship and because of its established reputation of delivering high quality work at competitive prices.