Solstad Offshore
Norwegian offshore vessel operator serving the energy and marine-construction industries.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Solstad Offshore is a Norwegian offshore service and supply shipping company headquartered in Skudeneshavn on the island of Karmøy. Established in 1964 as Solstad Rederi by Johannes Solstad, the company initially operated bulk carriers before moving into offshore supply shipping during the expansion of Norway's offshore petroleum industry. Its first four offshore supply vessels were delivered in 1973, and the business subsequently shifted toward specialized vessels supporting offshore exploration, production, construction and subsea work. The company historically operated several principal vessel categories. Platform supply vessels transport equipment, provisions and materials between shore bases and offshore installations. Anchor-handling tug supply vessels support the movement, positioning and mooring of floating rigs and other offshore units. Construction service vessels provide a broader set of capabilities for subsea construction, inspection, maintenance, cable and project work. These vessels can be equipped for demanding marine operations and are employed on projects for energy companies, contractors and offshore infrastructure developers. Solstad completed its transition away from bulk shipping in 1982, although it temporarily operated five handysize bulk carriers between 1989 and 1998. A fleet-renewal and expansion program beginning in 1996 expanded the fleet from 12 vessels to 43 by 2007. The company was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2007, while the Solstad family retained a significant ownership interest according to the cited reference material. It developed an international operating footprint with offices and activities in Norway, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, the Philippines and Ukraine, in addition to work in other offshore regions. A major corporate turning point came in June 2017, when Solstad Offshore merged with Farstad Shipping and Deep Sea Supply. The combined business was initially known as Solstad Farstad, bringing together fleets and organizations with complementary experience in offshore support and marine operations. In October 2018, the company changed its name back to Solstad Offshore ASA. The consolidation occurred during a difficult period for offshore shipping, when low activity and excess vessel capacity placed pressure on utilization, charter rates and balance sheets across the sector. Solstad has also sought to participate in offshore renewable energy. In October 2021, it joined Aker Solutions and DeepOcean Norway to establish Windstaller Alliance. The alliance was intended to combine product supply, fabrication and marine services for offshore wind projects and to pursue opportunities in other offshore renewable segments. This represented an effort to apply Solstad's vessel, marine-operations and project-management capabilities beyond conventional oil and gas. In March 2023, Solstad sold its Solstad PSV fleet of 37 platform supply vessels to Tidewater. The remaining fleet of 40 construction service vessels and anchor-handling tug supply vessels stayed with Solstad Offshore. The transaction materially sharpened the company's fleet profile around construction support, subsea and specialized offshore operations rather than maintaining the former platform-supply portfolio. Solstad therefore remains an offshore marine-services operator whose activities span traditional energy, offshore construction and emerging renewable-energy projects.
History
Solstad Offshore traces its origins to 1964, when Johannes Solstad founded Solstad Rederi in Skudeneshavn, a maritime community on Karmøy in southwestern Norway. The company began with ten bulk carriers ranging from approximately 7,000 to 14,000 deadweight tonnes. Its early business was therefore conventional cargo shipping rather than offshore support. The company's strategic direction changed in the early 1970s as activity in the North Sea created demand for specialized vessels serving offshore oil and gas installations. Four supply vessels were delivered in 1973, marking Solstad's entry into the offshore service sector. By 1982, the company had sold its entire dry-bulk fleet and had become a dedicated offshore-vessel operator. It later operated five handysize bulk carriers from 1989 to 1998, but this was a temporary diversification rather than a return to its original core model. A fleet renewal program launched in 1996 expanded and modernized the business. The fleet grew from 12 vessels to 43 by 2007, reflecting both newbuilding activity and the increasing demand for sophisticated offshore support capacity. Solstad became a publicly listed company on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2007. The Solstad family nevertheless retained a major ownership position, preserving the company's historical connection with its founding family. Over time, Solstad developed capabilities across platform supply, anchor handling and offshore construction. Platform supply vessels supported the movement of cargo and consumables to offshore installations. Anchor-handling tug supply vessels performed towing, mooring and positioning work for rigs and other floating assets. Construction service vessels supported subsea work, offshore construction, inspection, maintenance and other specialized marine projects. The company's global activities were supported by offices in Skudeneshavn, Ålesund, Aberdeen, Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Perth, Singapore, Manila and Odesa, as reported in the reference material. The offshore-vessel market experienced a difficult period after the downturn in oil and gas activity. Against this backdrop, Solstad pursued consolidation. In June 2017 it merged with Farstad Shipping and Deep Sea Supply. The enlarged company adopted the name Solstad Farstad and combined substantial vessel fleets and offshore operating organizations. In October 2018, it changed its name to Solstad Offshore ASA. The business later expanded its strategic interest in offshore renewables. In October 2021, Solstad joined Aker Solutions and DeepOcean Norway in creating Windstaller Alliance. The alliance was designed to integrate product supply, fabrication and marine services for offshore wind projects, while also seeking opportunities in other renewable offshore segments. This move reflected a broader industry effort to redeploy offshore engineering and vessel capabilities toward energy-transition infrastructure. A further fleet transformation occurred in March 2023. Solstad sold its platform supply vessel fleet, consisting of 37 vessels, to Tidewater. Solstad retained 40 construction service and anchor-handling tug supply vessels. The sale reduced its exposure to the platform-supply segment and left the company more concentrated on construction support, anchor handling and specialized offshore marine services. Solstad's historical development consequently combines a family-founded Norwegian shipping business, a transition from bulk carriers to offshore vessels, international expansion, sector consolidation and a continuing attempt to serve both conventional offshore energy and renewable marine infrastructure.
- 2023
Platform supply vessel fleet is sold to Tidewater
[1]Tidewater acquired 37 Solstad platform supply vessels, while Solstad retained 40 construction service and anchor-handling vessels.
- 2021
Windstaller Alliance is established
[1]Solstad joined Aker Solutions and DeepOcean Norway to pursue integrated offshore wind and renewable marine services.
- 2018
Return to the Solstad Offshore name
[1]The company changed its name to Solstad Offshore ASA.
- 2017
Merger with Farstad Shipping and Deep Sea Supply
[1]Solstad merged with Farstad Shipping and Deep Sea Supply and operated under the Solstad Farstad name.
- 2007
Listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange
[1]Solstad was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker SOFF.
- 1996
Fleet renewal program begins
[1]A fleet-renewal program began, later expanding the fleet from 12 vessels to 43 by 2007.
- 1982
Bulk fleet is sold
[1]Solstad completed its move into offshore shipping by selling its entire dry-bulk fleet.
- 1973
Entry into offshore supply shipping
[1]The company entered the offshore support market with the delivery of four supply vessels.
- 1964
Solstad Rederi is founded
[1]Johannes Solstad founded Solstad Rederi in Skudeneshavn with an initial fleet of ten bulk carriers.
Products and positioning
Specialized offshore vessel and marine-project services provider serving energy, subsea construction and offshore renewable markets.
Offshore construction and subsea support
Construction service vessels
Construction service vessels are specialized offshore ships used for subsea construction, inspection, maintenance and marine infrastructure work. Depending on configuration, they can support project cargo, subsea tooling, remotely operated systems, offshore installation activities and other complex operations. These vessels form a central part of Solstad's post-2023 fleet after the company sold its platform supply vessel portfolio.
Offshore towing and marine support
Anchor-handling tug supply vessels
Anchor-handling tug supply vessels combine towing, anchor-handling and supply functions. They are used to deploy, recover and reposition anchors, assist with the movement of rigs and floating offshore units, and transport equipment and materials. Solstad retained this vessel category after its 2023 platform supply fleet transaction with Tidewater.
Offshore logistics · 1973
Platform supply vessels
Platform supply vessels transport cargo, provisions, equipment and other supplies between shore bases and offshore installations. They were a long-standing part of Solstad's operating model, but the company's 37-vessel PSV fleet was sold to Tidewater in 2023. They are therefore a historical Solstad offering rather than a confirmed current fleet category.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Windstaller Alliance
Offshore wind · Offshore renewables · International marine infrastructure
Solstad, Aker Solutions and DeepOcean Norway formed Windstaller Alliance to combine product supply, fabrication and marine services for offshore wind projects and other offshore renewable segments.
Outcome. The alliance established a platform for jointly pursuing integrated offshore renewable projects. The available reference material does not provide a quantified contract or financial outcome.
Brand decisions
2023
Sell the platform supply vessel fleet to TidewaterM&ABackground
Solstad reassessed its fleet composition and offshore shipping portfolio.
Action taken
The company sold 37 platform supply vessels to Tidewater and retained 40 construction service and anchor-handling tug supply vessels.
Aftermath
The transaction concentrated Solstad's remaining fleet on construction support and anchor-handling operations.
2021
Expand into offshore renewable servicesStrategyBackground
Offshore wind and other renewable marine projects offered potential uses for the industry's vessel and offshore engineering capabilities.
Action taken
Solstad joined Aker Solutions and DeepOcean Norway in the Windstaller Alliance.
Aftermath
The partnership positioned the companies to pursue integrated supply, fabrication and marine-service work in offshore wind and other renewable segments.
2017
Merge with Farstad Shipping and Deep Sea SupplyM&ABackground
The offshore vessel sector was undergoing consolidation, and the combination brought together three established operators.
Action taken
Solstad merged with Farstad Shipping and Deep Sea Supply, initially operating as Solstad Farstad.
Aftermath
The merger created a larger international offshore shipping group and was followed by a return to the Solstad Offshore name in 2018.
1982
Become a dedicated offshore vessel operatorStrategyBackground
After entering offshore supply shipping in 1973, Solstad operated both bulk and offshore vessels during its transition period.
Action taken
The company sold its entire dry-bulk fleet and continued as a pure offshore vessel operator.
Aftermath
This established offshore support shipping as the company's long-term core business, despite a later temporary operation of five handysize bulk carriers from 1989 to 1998.
Recent events
- 2023
Tidewater acquires Solstad's platform supply vessel fleet[1]
M&A
Solstad sold a 37-vessel platform supply fleet to Tidewater, while retaining its construction service vessel and anchor-handling tug supply vessel operations.
- 2021
Solstad, Aker Solutions and DeepOcean establish Windstaller Alliance[1]
M&A · Other
The three companies formed Windstaller Alliance to offer integrated product supply, fabrication and marine services for offshore wind and other offshore renewable projects.
- 2018
Company name changes back to Solstad Offshore ASA[1]
Other
Following the 2017 combination, the company changed its name from Solstad Farstad to Solstad Offshore ASA.
- 2017
Solstad Offshore merges with Farstad Shipping and Deep Sea Supply[1]
M&A · Other
Solstad Offshore combined with Farstad Shipping and Deep Sea Supply in a major offshore-shipping consolidation, creating the company that operated under the Solstad Farstad name.
Sources2 sources
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