The Norwegian flotel “Edda Fides”, the first of its kind built in Spain, docked at the port of Las Palmas

The Norwegian-flagged flotel “Edda Fides” (IMO 9456290), the first of its kind built in Spain and one of the largest in the world in its category, is back at the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Contracted in 2008 by Edda Accommodation (Malta) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Norwegian company Østensjø Rederi, it is a floating hotel designed by Offshore Solutions B.V. (OSBV) with a capacity for 600 people and has been serving as offshore accommodation for technicians and workers on oil platforms since its delivery in March 2011.

Since 1974, the Østensjø Rederi group has specialized in the accommodation of oil platform personnel and, in addition to a fleet of specialized tugboats, has a dozen support vessels, two of which have been built in Spanish shipyards.

Construction number 1,664 from Astilleros Barreras, it is a vessel with a striking maritime appearance, with a total length of 130 m, a beam of 27 m, and a draft of 7 m, with a deadweight of 7,500 tons. It maintains a cruising speed of 12 knots powered by a diesel-electric system that drives six engines of 2,925 kW each and five Voith-Schneider azimuth thrusters, three at the stern and two at the bow, which can rotate 360º.

Notable is the dynamic positioning system that allows the vessel to maneuver in a position parallel to the platform, with minimal movement considering the force of currents, prevailing winds, and five-meter waves.

The vessel has a helipad located at the stern of the command bridge, a main deck of nearly two thousand square meters, three cranes with different lifting capacities, and a 15-meter telescopic gangway installed at the bow, allowing workers to access the platforms safely.

In addition to 180 cabins for rest distributed across four decks, it has conference and meeting rooms, communication equipment, satellite television and internet, as well as a gym, sauna, pool, library, cinema, and recreational areas.

The investment in the construction of the “Edda Fides” vessel amounted to 140 million euros and involved two million hours of work for nearly a thousand people. Astilleros Barreras won the contract in competition with 34 other shipyards worldwide that responded to the call from the aforementioned Norwegian company based in Haugesund.

Photo: Nicolás Arocha for puentedemando.com