Ship brokerage services

Tender description

UKRI, through its component Research Council, the NERC, currently operates a fleet of 4 vessels undertaking a range of oceanographic science and logistics operations worldwide including the re-supply of the UK’s Antarctic stations. It has a requirement to obtain marine brokerage services to handle a range of activities related to its fleet to include: (a) disposal, by sale, of vessels surplus to requirements; (b) chartering in of vessels; (c) chartering out of its vessels; and (d) the valuation of vessels. As the above services are non-core activities, UKRI wishes to select marine brokers on a fixed term contract — for an initial term of 3 years, with 2 optional 1 year extensions. 1) Sale of UKRI vessels: UKRI has an immediate need to dispose of the RRS “James Clark Ross” when she comes out of service in summer 2020. To maximise her disposal price, she needs to be sold, via marine brokers, on an “as is/where is” basis and (on the assumption that she will still be in class on the date of disposal), as a “going concern”. To coordinate with the entry into service of the RRS “Sir David Attenborough” and the return of the RRS “Ernest Shackleton”, the latter at the expiry of her long-term charter, the optimum period for disposal by sale will be shortly after RRS “James Clark Ross”’‘s return from Antarctica in summer 2020. 2) Chartering in vessels: Where UKRI does not have vessels with the capacity or capability to undertake the required work, it will need to obtain suitable vessels, often at very short notice to satisfy the needs of both internal and external customers. Theses could include vessels for; seismic surveys; deep sea drilling; cargo and freight transport and other operations on an ad hoc basis. As a Contracting Authority, UKRI will likely be required to openly advertise charter requirements. 3) Chartering out UKRI-owned vessels: Where UKRI has spare capacity, vessels will be offered up to the market on an opportunistic basis to increase potential revenue streams whilst still satisfying internal requirements for scientific oceanographic and logistics supply support/operations. 4) Valuation of vessels: UKRI has ad hoc requirements to value its fleet of vessels and will require professional assessment valuations as to the market value of such assets as and when required. Contract: The Contract duration shall be for a period of an initial term of three years with optional extensions, subject to satisfactory performance, of 2 x 1 year periods from commencement of the Contract.