Maritime glossary · OSV
Offshore Support Vessel
A vessel that supports offshore energy operations, from supply runs to anchor handling and construction.
Definition
An offshore support vessel serves oil, gas, and increasingly offshore wind installations. The main types are the platform supply vessel (PSV), which carries cargo, fuel, and water to platforms, and the anchor handling tug supply (AHTS), which tows and positions rigs and handles their anchors. Many are fitted with dynamic positioning to hold station precisely. The OSV market tracks offshore energy spending closely and is highly regional.
How Vessel Hunter uses Offshore Support Vessel
OSV operators cluster around offshore basins. Vessel Hunter maps the fleets and operators working each region for the supply chain around them.
Related terms
- Tug
A powerful small vessel that tows, pushes, and assists larger ships in ports, on rivers, and at sea.
- Anchorage
A designated area off a port where vessels anchor to wait for a berth, orders, or tide.
- Pilotage
The guidance of a ship through confined or hazardous waters by a local maritime pilot.
The bigger picture
Offshore Support Vessel is one piece of the commercial maritime picture Vessel Hunter pulls together for shipyards, suppliers, service providers, and port agents. Every vessel record bundles AIS, ownership, inspections, dry-dock history, casualty record, classification status, and a verified contact for the operator decision-maker behind the ship, so the team that reaches out first wins the work.
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