kənstɹˈʌktᵻd baɪ ˈɛmdʒˈɛləm ænd kˈɑːɹlsən æt ðɛɹ ʃˈɪpjɑːɹd ɪn bˈɜːdʒən, nˈoːɹweɪ, vˈɪdɑːɹ, ðə nˈeɪm ʃˈɪp ʌvðə klˈæs wʌz lˈeɪd dˌaʊn ˌɔn wˈʌn mˈɑːɹtʃ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɪks ænd lˈɑːntʃt ˌɔn ˈeɪtiːn mˈɑːɹtʃ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɛvən.
Constructed by Mjellem and Karlsen at their shipyard in Bergen, Norway, Vidar, the name ship of the class was laid down on 1 March 1976 and launched on 18 March 1977.