The Western Regent was launched in 1992. Built in Ulsteinvik, Norway, she has a gross tonnage of 5795, and an overall length of 93.2 m.
The Western Regent became the fifth WesternGeco vessel to be outfitted with Q-Marine technology, having being upgraded in Bergen in May 2005 before commencing her first Q survey in the North Sea.
As a purpose-built seismic vessel able to tow up to 12 streamers, she is designed to operate at sea for long periods. Up to 63 people can be accommodated in comfort, with constant high-speed satellite communication links, dedicated catering staff and impressive crew facilities; including a gym and a cinema.
In 2006, the Western Regent performed the most complicated offshore acquisition program ever attempted, a 3D over/under survey. Designed to enable full-bandwidth imaging beneath salt and basalt, over/under acquisition tows pairs of cables that are vertically separated by only 5 m. The cables were kept in constant horizontal alignment for their entire length of 9000 m.