Oslo-listed Fairstar Heavy Transport NV, a specialist in high value cargoes, has chosen BASSnet™, a leading provider of fleet management software, to meet the demanding requirements of its customers and auditors.

Sealing its choice of BASSnet Fleet Management Systems with a contract inked in early September, Fairstar, which is based in Rotterdam, is set to experience improved operational efficiency with the implementation of the software for maintenance, purchasing, safety- and risk management as well as crew management.

Fairstar’s fleet manager Gerhard Quist says: "After careful consideration and comparison, Fairstar has chosen BASS to implement a Fleet Management System that withstands global demands for safe, optimized, reliable and profitable ship operations.

"The integrated BASSnet suite enables Fairstar to remain in compliance with existing and emerging maritime regulations, and fulfils the most demanding requirements of our customers and auditing organizations."

Hilde Aarseth Krogenes, regional manager of BASS adds: "We are pleased to enter into this partnership with Fairstar. They are engaged in a very challenging segment of shipping -and it’s great testimony that Fairstar has chosen the entire BASSnet™ software suite to manage, and optimize their maritime operations."

Fairstar is the leading provider of marine heavy transport solutions specializing in high-value cargoes for the offshore and onshore energy, and construction industries.

At present, Fairstar owns and operates two of the most modern semi-submersible heavy transport ships globally, the FJORD and FJELL.

Faistar also has two 50,000DWT, open-stern semi-submersible vessels, FORTE and FINESSE, which are currently under construction in Guangzhou Shipbuilding International in China. The two vessels are likely to be commissioned by Fairstar in 2012.

The contract with BASSnet follows after Fairstar began looking into the market for a modern state-of-the art fleet management system to execute world-class fleet management and crew management.

The company’s fleet director Willem Out says: "The system is DNV (Det Norske Veritas) approved. The latest version of the system has been very well received in the market. This system will help Fairstar in executing her "Red Box" strategy."

Fairstar’s ‘Red Box Strategy’ is in response to the tumbling of day charter rates, and the current oversupply of converted oil tankers into semi-submersible heavy transport vessels that has disrupted demand for the last two years.

The ‘Red Box Strategy’ is dependent on a well-oiled team of experienced and highly trained professionals, consistently achieving standards of exceptional performance. Thus BASSnet Fleet Management System fits right into Fairstar’s current aspirations.