Norwegian offshore‑service provider DOF Group has confirmed that two of its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels have been awarded firm contracts in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region. The engagements amount to roughly 150 days of work and are valued somewhere between US$15 million and US$25 million, according to a company release cited by Splash247. The contracts represent a significant addition to DOF’s Atlantic‑South American order book and underline growing demand for versatile offshore support vessels in the western Caribbean.
Contract scope and financial terms
The two unnamed AHTS ships will each be committed to a combined total of 150 contract days, a figure disclosed by Splash247. While the exact split of days per vessel was not detailed, the firm nature of the contracts means that DOF is obliged to provide services for the full period without the possibility of cancellation. Offshore Energy adds that the work “takes DOF’s vessel pair to the Americas,” reinforcing the cross‑regional character of the award.
Financially, the statement from DOF places the overall contract value in a bracket of US$15 million to US$25 million. Neither source provides a precise figure, but the range signals a multi‑million‑dollar revenue stream that will contribute materially to the company’s 2026 earnings expectations.
Operational details and ancillary services
Beyond the core tug‑handling and supply functions typical of AHTS ships, DOF has pledged to deliver remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capabilities as part of the engagement. Splash247 reports that the firm will “provide remotely operated vehicle services for the engagement,” indicating a bundled offering that may cover subsea inspection, light intervention or survey tasks alongside conventional offshore support.
The inclusion of ROVs suggests that the contracts are likely tied to projects requiring subsea work—potentially offshore wind foundation installation, pipeline inspection or de‑risking activities in shallow Caribbean waters. By coupling vessel and equipment provision, DOF positions itself as a one‑stop solution for clients seeking both surface and subsea expertise.
Geographic reach of the engagements
The contracts cover the entirety of the CARICOM region, which encompasses 15 member states and territories across the Caribbean basin. Offshore Energy expands on this by naming Belize in Central America as well as Guyana and Suriname in northern South America as additional areas where the vessels may operate. This broad scope implies that the AHTS pair will be called upon for tasks ranging from island‑to‑island logistics to mainland offshore support.
By targeting both Caribbean islands and adjacent continental coasts, DOF is tapping into a market characterised by dispersed infrastructure, variable port facilities and a growing appetite for offshore renewable projects. The geographic spread also raises logistical considerations around crew changes, fuel bunkering and maintenance windows, all of which will need careful planning to maintain vessel availability throughout the contract period.
Timeline and mobilisation
The company statement notes that “the two unnamed vessels will commence transit to the region shortly,” indicating that mobilisation is imminent. While no specific departure dates are given, the articles were published on 10 August 2026, implying that the vessels could be underway within weeks of the announcement.
Given the short‑notice nature of the deployment, DOF will likely need to coordinate crew rotations, ensure compliance with regional port state control regimes and secure any required permits for ROV operations. The absence of vessel names in either source suggests that DOF may still be finalising contractual details or simply prefers to keep the identities confidential until the ships are en route.
What this means for operators
The award highlights a clear trend: Caribbean offshore work is increasingly being bundled with subsea capabilities, and operators that can deliver both surface support and ROV services stand to win larger, longer‑term contracts. For ship owners, the announcement underscores the importance of maintaining a flexible fleet capable of rapid redeployment across a wide area of operations. Crewing strategies will need to accommodate shorter turnaround times between ports while respecting local labour regulations.
Furthermore, the contract’s financial magnitude demonstrates that even relatively short engagements (150 days) can generate multi‑million‑dollar revenues when premium services such as ROVs are included. Operators should therefore consider investing in or partnering with ROV providers to enhance their value proposition. Finally, the broad geographic scope suggests that future tender opportunities may similarly span multiple jurisdictions, prompting a need for robust compliance and logistics frameworks to handle varied customs, immigration and environmental requirements.