Maersk Supply Service (MSS) has reduced the pool of North Sea offshore vessels further by selling two ships out of the oil and gas market.

The Danish company said the 23,500-bhp anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) ship Maersk Advancer (built 2004) and Maersk Asserter (both built 2004) were offloaded on 12 June.

The shipowner added that the pair had gone to an international buyer and will be modified for use in a non-competing industry.