Australian gas producer Woodside has hired six vessels of the Norwegian offshore service and supply ship shipping company Solstad Offshore to assist with drilling at offshore fields in Australia.
Norwegian OSV operator said that the six vessels, two of which are anchor handlers and four are PSVs, would provide marine services for several offshore drilling campaigns in Australian waters beginning in December 2019.
Normand Saracen, Far Senator, Normand Leader, Normand Skimmer, Normand Swan and Far Seeker will be contracted to Woodside for a combined firm period of 1100 vessel-days, with Woodside having access to a further combined total of 3000 optional vessel-days.
The Normand Leader, a dual fuel powered PSV, will be mobilized from the North Sea to Australia and she will be operated in LNG mode during her charter period on the North West Shelf supporting Woodside’s ‘Green Corridor Initiative.’
These contract awards are unique in scale and volume and are testament to Woodside’s commitment to developing new ways of working to support their Burrup Hub vision.
Solstad CEO Lars Peder Solstad said: “This is an exciting collaboration that supports both the Woodside and Solstad low emissions strategy, whilst providing a comprehensive vessel package consisting of six high quality vessels from a single Marine Partner. We would like to thank Woodside for this unique opportunity, and we look forward to a safe and efficient campaign”
Preparations have already started for the significant mobilization campaign required to be completed ahead of offshore commencement later this year.
“We have a very busy preparatory period ahead of us in the coming months which has already kicked off in earnest. Mobilizing six vessels for a single campaign is something a vessel operator is rarely required to do, so our main focus is that we plan diligently and execute safely,” said Managing Director for Solstad Offshore Asia Pacific, Keith Soutar.