Contract opportunities

Orkney Islands Council Seeks Bow Thruster for MV Varagen

The MV Varagen has only one bow thruster, powered exclusively by the starboard main engine, meaning that if the engine was to fail during manoeuvring, the vessel would lose thruster capability and rely solely on the port main engine.

As a result of this, Orkney Islands Council is seeking a supplier to provide an additional bow thruster to act as an alternative power source, essentially acting as a backup to provide better manoeuvrability, especially during bad weather.

The supplier will be required to:

• Design the system and submit it to Lloyd’s Register (LR) for approval, with support from the owner.
• Supply the approved equipment.
• Install the system in accordance with LR requirements.
• Commission the new bow thruster.

The estimated total value of this contract excluding VAT is £270k.

The time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is Monday 23 March 2026 at 12pm.

A contract notice has been published on Public Contracts Scotland (PCS), where additional information can be accessed and interested parties can express their interest.

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