Korean giant shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), partnered by BMT Defence Services, was awarded a NOK1.32 billion (USD153.2 million) contract in June 2013 by Norway's Defence Logistics Organisation for the design and build of the LSV under Project 2513. Norway awaits arrival of new ship from Republic of Korea. Maud departed DSME's Okpo yard on 3 February to begin the first part of its delivery voyage across the Pacific to San Diego. After transiting through the Panama Canal and crossing the Atlantic the vessel is expected to reach Haakonsvern naval base in Bergen in late March.
The new ship is intended to meet the RNoN's long-standing requirement for a multirole auxiliary vessel to provide afloat and logistics support for a maritime task group, and to contribute to NATO-led international operations. Norwegian Ministry of Defence (Forsvarsdepartementet) has announced that Maud will be dual-crewed to maximise operational availability. This move follows the sinking of the Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate KNM Helge Ingstad in Hjeltefjorden last November following a collision.
Sea trials began in December 2017, but the programme encountered a further delay after the ship's main machinery suffered damage during testing. Rectification and repair work meant Maud was not accepted off contract until 16 November 2018, more than two years later than original planned.
