This 4,531 grt multi purpose offshore vessel was designed for Stena Offshore, Sweden, and was built at Trondhjems Mekaniske Verksted A/S in Norway. The vessel was delivered as M/S Stena Piper in 1976, but in 2013 is owned by Servicios Marítimos de Campeche in Mexico and is operated by Oceanic Services in the Gulf of Mexico.

Since the delivery of the vessel, KNUD E. HANSEN has been involved in numerous refits and refurbishments, including a major lengthening of the vessels and installation of a 100 ton crane.