RAN Offshore

RÁN OFFSHORE BARGES THAT ARE

ALWAYS RUNNING

powered by Inside Marine

BARGES THAT ARE ALWAYS

Norway’s Rán Offshore is a highly effective performer in the international barge industry, offering its five-strong fleet primarily to the energy and offshore windfarm sectors to assist in the transportation of materials. Andy Probert catches up with CEO Lars Bjerke Tho and co-founder and Chartering Director Trym Lintoft about the company’s latest projects and ambitions.

Whether it’s a luxury yacht, components for offshore windfarms or transporting a pipe laying tower, the fleet of Rán Offshore is among the busiest and most versatile in the floating barge sector today. With its consistently high service levels and commitment to excellence in its client network, Rán Offshore has ensured its fleet of four North Sea barges and a ballastable 400ft barge are in continual demand from the North Sea to Gulf of Mexico and West Africa.

The company was founded as Greenway Shipping in 2011 by four work colleagues with an eye to tapping potential in the international barge market. This led to them commissioning the four new build 91m x 27m barges in 2012-13 from China’s Dalian Shipyard.

Today, CEO Lars Bjerke Tho and co-founder and Chartering Director Trym Lintoft remain at the head of the company, which was renamed Rán Offshore after the Norse Sea Goddess Rán in 2015. From the company’s Trondheim base, they oversee the fleet, which operates out of Rotterdam and Stavanger.

The modern ultra-deck strength flat top North Sea barges, known as the Greenbarges, each have a 9,025 DWT capacity and a deck strength of 25T/m2. The barges’ hull shape is improved for reduced water resistance, obtaining a higher towing speed with less fuel consumption. The barges were also the first in their sector to have ballast water treatment systems installed when they were built.

In addition to a 400 x 120 feet ballastable barge, Ranbarge 1, with a deck strength of 25T/m2 and 19,891 DWT, Rán Offshore acts as technical manager for two 50 x 18m flat top barges, commercially operated by the company Fundamentering (FAS).

Stable market

Mr Tho said: “The international barge market is a niche area, and the North Sea s ector was initially our goal. It was a tough few years following the oil price collapse of 2015-16, so we’re proud to still be here having got through that period.”

Collectively with more than 50 years of experience serving within the marine industry, from shipowners to ship

equipment suppliers, Rán Offshore offers a complete service to clients from chartering of tugs and barges, daily reporting routines, ballast operators and procedures, related logistics, as well as engineering, port and agent services.

Rán Offshore barges are normally chartered to major contractors for projects in the offshore, energy and wind farm markets, or are operated with full-service provision, including transportation. “Around 70% of our business is pure barge rentals,” Mr Lintoft explained, “and the remaining 30% is transportation.”

Both confirmed that business has been “fairly static” in recent years, although challenges remain. Despite a slow start for their newest barge, Ranbarge 1, (which was acquired in 2018) it has been fully occupied throughout 2022 and potentially into 2023.

“The market for our Greenbarges in the North Sea has been very stable, with them being utilised for more than 50%

of the time, which is a key industry benchmark,” confirmed Mr Tho.

Rán Offshore is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 accredited and holds an ISM Statement of Compliance for the operation of barges. Reassuringly, the Greenbarges were dry-docked in 2022 for inspection and given their 10-year operational class certification.

The fleet has been engaged in various energy projects, including ones in West Africa, between 2016 and 2018. Mr Tho said: “It was very important for us to get those contracts, as two barges were engaged for three years full-time.

“In summer 2022, two barges worked on a load-out operation on the Hinkley Point project in England, and that was concluded successfully for the client,” he added.

Ranbarge 1 was utilised to transport a large pipe-laying tower which was then lifted off by the world’s largest crane vessel , Sleipnir, and transferred to the pipe-laying vessel Amazon in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam.

Ranbarge 1 was also engaged on carrying materials for an oil and gas project in Mexico last year and is presently on duty for a major windfarm project off the coast of Scotland.

Mr Lintoft commented: “For the more unusual projects, our barges have been called on to trans-ship a big bridge to Gothenburg, a yacht from Rotterdam, a big hull section from Poland to Norway and a topside weighing 4,600 tonnes on the Greenbarges. They all show the capacity and versatility of our fleet, which are commonly split 50:50 between energy and offshore wind contracts.”

Exploring new opportunities

Mr Tho reflected how the rental of barges had been on “the low side for many years , but we are now seeing a slight increase in the rates, which is good for everyone. The barges are built for 25-30 years of operational life, and I think there is a good balance in the market.

“For the short to medium term, Rán Offshore is focused on maintaining its

position in the market, exceeding 50% usage for the barges in coming years and to continue delivering highly competent services by working closely with brokers and clients.”

Mr Tho said that Ran Offshore has a competitive advantage in the market as barges were their core focus: “Our barges are of high quality, and we try to respond quickly to clients as they need to be able to work quickly.

“We maintain good contacts with toptier EPCs who commonly work with oil majors. Our long-term relations are founded on transparency, trust and excellent communications. If you can offer good service and excellent assets, it isn’t rocket science that you can maintain fulfilling and effective relations across the market.”

Looking ahead, Mr Lintoft concluded: “For Rán Offshore, it is steady as she goes: picking up and exploring potential opportunities for our barges along the way, while maintaining our reputation in this market. Overall, we think we’re positioned well for the future.” n

Lars Bjerke Tho, CEO

Trym Gade Lintoft, Chartering Director