Norwegian West Coast News

The Marine Energy Test Center (METCentre) in Norway has been licensed to test four new offshore wind turbines on the Norwegian west coast. Arvid Nesse, head of METCentre and Norwegian Offshore Wind, said: "This expansion strengthens Norway's position as an international pioneer in floating offshore wind,"The world's first floating offshore wind turbine was tested at the METCentre in 2009, and last year the Danish-developed TetraSpar turbine arrived at the center for testing, too.

Norwegian/Swedish RoRo shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen's new president and CEO, Lasse Kristoffersen, took up his new position June 1.Named to the role in November, Kristoffersen joins Wallenius Wilhelmsen ASA from Torvald Klaveness, where he has worked for the past 15 years, serving as president and CEO since 2011. “I have been looking forward to this day for a while now. I have spent the last few weeks building my knowledge about the company and will now focus on getting to know our clients and our people.

Siem Offshore said one of its dual fuel platform supply vessels (PSV) has been upgraded with a hybrid battery package, in line with the company’s goals to reduce its environmental footprint.The installation aboard the 2014-built VS 4411 DF Siem Symphony was conducted at Westcon’s yard on the Norwegian west coast during the second quarter, and the vessel has been assigned the Battery Power notation from DNV. Prior to the conversion, the 5,500-dwt vessel was already equipped to…

Bergen Tankers’ newly converted liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel—Norway's first—has recently entered service.The 49.25-meter vessel, Bergen LNG, is being operated by Gasnor (Shell) in the Bergen area and on the Norwegian west coast to supply the LNG-fueled passenger ships operated by Hurtigruten and Kystruten. Bergen LNG has completed several LNG bunkers for ships, and has distributed LNG to many industrial and land facilities in Norway, Bergen Tankers said.The 850…

After having been informed by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform and its member organisation Bellona that the Tide Carrier (now named HARRIER, aka EIDE CARRIER) had been sold for illegal, dirty and dangerous scrapping to a South Asian beaching facility, the Norwegian environmental authorities arrested the ship on Tuesday 5 April. The vessel is not allowed to leave Norway unless it is to sail to a ship recycling destination in line with international and European hazardous waste laws. According to the Norwegian Environment Agency, it is the first arrest of a vessel in Norway for the illegal export of hazardous waste. The Platform had been informed already during the summer of 2015 that the ship was sold for scrap.

Skangas has entered into an agreement with Statoil for delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel for their platform supply vessels (PSV). The LNG will be delivered to several bases along the Norwegian west coast by ship. Skangas will in addition deliver LNG to Statoil’s tugs at Kårstø. The agreement is valid from 1 April 2017 until the end of 2020 with an option for two plus two years. The supply bases are located at Mongstad, Florø (Saga Fjordbase) and Kristiansund (Vestbase). The agreement between Statoil and Skangas was a result of a comprehensive tendering process involving several LNG suppliers in the Norwegian market. “We see this agreement as a recognition of our daily work and a confirmation of a good relationship with Statoil”, says Tor Morten Osmundsen, CEO of Skangas.

Samskip has expanded its shortsea service network in Norway with Kristiansund and Molde by adding Gjemnes as its 10th port of call. The multimodal solution provider describes the move as its latest strategic step to intensify Samskip’s presence in the Nordic region and enhance efficiency. It follows on from the introduction of the larger capacity 657 TEU container vessel MV ALK into Norwegian West Coast shortsea services in mid-2015. Centrally located in the county of More and Romsdal…

Ro-ro cargo vessel Kvitbjørn ran aground off Ulsteinvik port, Norway, in the afternoon June 28, while approaching the port. The vessel, owned by Norway-based Nor Lines, was refloated at 2145 LT same day with the help of tugs at high tide, and taken to port. It is understood, that vessel suffered some damages, but no leak reported. There were 15 onboard, with no injuries reported. The grounding was caused by mechanical failure, though vessel is brand new. Kvitbjørn – means White Bear or Polar Bear – is a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled cargo ferry that will provide regular service along the Norwegian west coast and between northern Europe and Norway.

Samskip has increased capacity on Norway by chartering the 657 TEU container vessel MV Alk, built in 2004 and measuring 132.60 x 19.20 metres. Caesar Luikenaar, Trade Director Scandinavia Trade says the company has deployed the 8,015 DWT vessel on the weekly Norwegian West Coast service which is experiencing significant traffic growth. “This vessel first departed last Monday and is well equipped for the weekly route between the Norwegian West Coast and Europe, departing from Rotterdam to Stavanger, Bergen, Ålesund and back again to Rotterdam,” Luikenaar said.

Lundin Petroleum AB, through its wholly owned subsidiary Lundin Norway AS, is pleased to announce that drilling of exploration well 33/2-1 in PL555 has commenced. The well will investigate the hydrocarbon potential of the Storm Prospect in PL555, which is located 200 km west northwest of Florø on the Norwegian west coast and approximately 65 km northwest of the Snorre Field. The main objective of well 33/2-1 is to test the reservoir properties and hydrocarbon potential of the Upper Jurassic Sandstones equivalent to the reservoir in the Magnus field on the UKCS approximately 35 km to the south. Lundin Petroleum estimates the Storm prospect to have the potential to contain unrisked, gross prospective resources of 89 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe).

Norway-based shipping company Fjord Line’s Stavangerfjord represents a new-generation of advanced and environmentally friendly Cruise Passenger Ferry with outstanding passenger facilities in order to operate both as a day and night ferry. The vessel is built to provide passengers with pleasant experiences, even under the harsh weather conditions of the North Sea. A modern and flexible interior design provides a capacity for 1,500 passengers (1,200 passenger during winter), and a total of 306 cabins on two decks provide first class accommodation and a variety of restaurants…

As of September 30, Samskip Multimodal introduces its own weekly shortsea service to the Norwegian West Coast, connecting its pan-European network to Tananger, Bergen and Ålesund via Rotterdam, the Netherlands, deploying the 518 TEU MV Pioneer Bay. With a guaranteed weekly departure on Tuesdays, the shortsea service is available between Rotterdam, the Netherlands and Tananger, Bergen and Ålesund, Norway, with possible inducement calls to Måløy and other Norwegian ports. Samskip…

Aker Solutions sign contract with Marathon Oil Norge for the delivery of subsea trees to the Alvheim field on the Norwegian continental shelf. The contract includes the delivery of four subsea trees and associated equipment. The contract is part of the frame agreement, covering the North Sea and Europe, between Marathon Oil Norge, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Oil Corporation, and Aker Solutions. "Our dedicated subsea teams in Norway and the UK look forward to execute another project on behalf of Marathon. We are very pleased to continue this positive client relationship," says Knut Røsjorde, head of Aker Solutions' subsea operations in Norway and Africa.

The hull substructure for the world's most advanced drilling rig Aker H-6e has started on its 50 days journey from to Stord in .  Weighing 16 000 tonnes, equalling 16 000 cars, this is one of the largest drilling rigs to be towed.  The hull is constructed by Aker Solutions at Drydocks World's yard and will be towed to Aker Solutions' yard at Stord, situated on the west coast of . There it will be assembled with the topside facility and subject to further construction work prior to delivery. The 120 meter long hull will be towed through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea, passing the western coasts of and , entering the before it reaches its final destination at Stord on the Norwegian west coast late May/early June.

Sitting in scenic Alesund, Norway, Maritime Partners, which sells a wide variety of rescue and patrol craft, has the advantage of geography in more ways than one. Aesthetically, Alesund could be considered one of the most beautiful places in the world, with German-influenced architecture set on the rugged, fjord-laden Norwegian west coast. Aesthetics aside, Maritime Partners sits in the middle of a cradle of Norwegian maritime technology, allowing it to tap an enviable base of experience while enjoying the benefits of international operations. Maritime Partners, started in 1994, has an annual turnover of $20 million and delivered 70 vessels in 2002.

Sitting in scenic Alesund, Norway, Maritime Partners, which sells a wide variety of rescue and patrol craft, has the advantage of geography in more ways than one. Aesthetically, Alesund could be considered one of the most beautiful places in the world, with German-influenced architecture set on the rugged, fjord-laden Norwegian west coast. Aesthetics aside, Maritime Partners sits in the middle of a cradle of Norwegian maritime technology, allowing it to tap an enviable base of experience while enjoying the benefits of international operations. Maritime Partners, started in 1994, has an annual turnover of $20 million and delivered 70 vessels in 2002.