For the second time we have a roll of drums as we consider an Ulstein design, this time the UT 755. It is possibly already the most prolific supply vessel ever built although it is difficult to come up with a total number constructed, and it can be assumed that every one is still in service, or laid up with the intent of being returned to service if things offshore ever get better. We know when the order for the 100th of the design was placed which was on May 23rd 2006, by Myklebusthaug Offshore with Simek in Norway, and the ship was to enter service in 2007 as Dina Supplier (Photo by Jan Plug in 2008). However things are a little more vague, at least for me, about the first vessel of the type to enter service. I have always been given to understand that the origins of the type were due to discussions between Gulf Offshore and the Ulstein design house. Gulf were looking for an economy version of the UT 705, and did not fancy the UT 706, which had always been an awkward and less popular vessel. And the result of this collaboration was said to be the Highland Piper (Photo by Peter Taylor in 2003) which started work in 1996 and is still working as Seabulk Benin. But other have suggested that the first was the Suffolk Supporter which also entered service in 1996 and was soon to become the Northern Supporter, or even the Safe Truck which was much later to become Highland Trader. But however it started the design was to prove to be extremely popular, and all later models were at least the UT 755L which added a five metre section into the working area. Since the early days the UT 755 has been built in yards all over the world, including most of those on the west coast of Norway and also in Denmark, Italy, India and China. The type incorporates a number of very popular features including the high sides to the working deck, with escape ports for the crew, and the triangular bridge. Almost universally they have been powered by two Bergen diesels developing 5450 bhp and have been provided with a couple of forward thrusters and a single thruster aft. At the beginning of the current decade some vessels designated the UT 755 LX have been built 75 metres in length with 7600 bhp available.  The ships have sometimes been provided with DP2 capability and some have become ROV support vessels. Those who have followed the development of the ship type in these columns will have noted that there have up to now been very few contributions from American yards and this is illustrated by the status of the Tidewater fleet in the year the UT 755 entered service. At that time Tidewater operated over 400 vessels but the most powerful of the lot was the Dee Service a 1976 built UT 704. The Americans had some catching up to do and Tidewater’s first move was to purchase a second hand UT 755.