The port of Las Palmas has once again welcomed the 'Edda Fides', a unique vessel under the Norwegian flag, notable for being the first floating hotel built in Spain to operate exclusively as 'offshore' accommodation. More than a decade after its launch, it remains one of the largest in its category worldwide.
With a silhouette reminiscent of a multi-story building, the 'Edda Fides' was designed to address the need for safe and comfortable accommodation for hundreds of technicians on offshore oil platforms. This Spanish project, which outperformed 34 international shipyards, was constructed by Astilleros Barreras in Vigo.
The construction, delivered in March 2011, involved an investment of approximately 140 million euros and required two million working hours with the participation of nearly a thousand professionals. The vessel, measuring 130 meters in length and 27 meters in beam, features a main deck of nearly 2,000 square meters equipped with cranes and logistical storage.
Despite its connection to the energy sector, its interior resembles a modern hotel complex. It has 180 cabins with a usual capacity for 600 people, a restaurant, meeting rooms, a library, a cinema, a gym, a sauna, a swimming pool, satellite internet, and television. It also includes a medical clinic and a helideck for evacuations.
One of its most remarkable features is its advanced dynamic positioning system (DP3), allowing it to remain stationary next to oil platforms without anchors. It combines six diesel-electric generators with five Voith-Schneider azimuthing thrusters and has a 15-meter telescopic gangway for platform access.
Since entering service, the 'Edda Fides' has participated in operations in key energy hubs such as the North Sea, Australia, the Gulf of Mexico, and the West African coast, establishing itself as a crucial asset for the international oil industry. Its return to Las Palmas reaffirms the port's strategic role as a stopover for specialized vessels.
