The Polar King is the name of the cable-laying vessel that has now been converted into the world’s largest seismic ship and renamed Geo Atlantic – still classed by DNV.

Fredrik Hopperstad at DNV’s office in Fredrikstad has had the main responsibility for following up the conversion into a seismic ship.

DNV’s Ole-Wiggo Haakstad and Rieber Shipping’s inspector Rune Follnes find solutions.

In September, the Geo Atlantic sailed from the shipyard in Fredrikstad, Norway where Drammen Skipsreparasjon has carried out the conversion work in what used to be Fredrikstad Mekaniske Verksted’s old dry-dock.

The ship’s first assignment is for Statoil on the Snøhvit field in northern Norway, following which it has assignments in India. The Geo Atlantic is owned by Arrow Seismic ASA, while Norwegian company GC Rieber Shipping will operate the ship.

The Geo Atlantic, which is designated as a Seismographic Research Ship, has been in operation since September 2000 and its gross tonnage is 12,676. Erik Landa is the ship’s master.

Date: 2006-10-11