YARDS • POWER & AUTOMATION • LØFTETEKNIKK • GEO
Primed for the future JUNE
2016
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World-class
Growing with
Modifications
battery solutions
prestigious projects
out of the ordinary
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Contents 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 13 14 16 18 19 20 26 27 28 30 34 35 36 40
Introduction Investing in efficiency WIN-win for client and Westcon Smart solutions built on practical experience We should never be satisfied when it comes to safety The future of BOP classing The birthplace of ideas on Husøy Cutting climate emissions and noise Chance to perform the job themselves Environmentally aware with batteries from Westcon The Norwegian Armed Forces and ferries dock at Westcon Westcon Subsea winning contracts in a tough market Secured maintenance agreement with Statoil Test of strength with Safe Scandinavia To the Red Sea with Magseis Great education at Westcon “We grow with our clients” Fishing, freedom and ‘Ordnung muss sein’ Entering land-based process industry First DNV-certified rig for cold climates Rigs at sunset Westcon
Editor: Liv-Kari Bødtker Editorial staff: Westcon og Medvind24 Text: Medvind24 - Kari Aakra and Ellen Marie Hagevik Layout and design: Filter design & kommunikasjon Print: HBO Distribution: 15 000 (Norwegian) / 1 000 (English) Cover: Kristian P. Aasbø and Rikke Arnestad operate the world´s largest machine for the cold bending of pipes, in Ølen. Photo: Øyvind Sætre Westcon Group N–5582 Ølensvåg Tlf +47 53 77 50 00 westcon@westcon.no If you have feedback or suggestions regarding the magazine, please contact livkari@westcon.no
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The goal now is to create opportunities and own them.
Arne Birkeland,
CEO, Westcon Group
Now, more than ever, it is up to us. When there is less work to compete for in the market, it is, more than ever, up to us to make things happen. I can say with pride that I believe that we do this well! As you will read in the magazine, we have the abilities required to grasp opportunities and turn them into actions. We can do little with the price of oil and other factors affecting our customers, except to face the situation with initiative and solution orientation. We see good projects within our traditional business areas, but also in new ones. The Norwegian Armed Forces is a good example and I have great expectations for this sector. The contract with BioMar is another example and the same can be said for the two frame agreements we have secured with Statoil, following a formidable effort! Frame agreements like these create opportunities for every part of Westcon. I continue to see examples of how our diverse specialists take other business areas to the market and create bigger opportunities, together. Fine examples of such activities are the winterization solutions, which, as I write, are ongoing in Ølen, and the battery solution that has been delivered to Eidesvik. I believe we have good reason to be proud of what we have accomplished! This does not mean that it is time to rest. We see the dark clouds in the market, with small order reserves and shorter planning horizons. We need to accept the fact that this next period of time will be challenging. However, it is our responsibility to manage the situation and I think we do this well, every day. Some measures are more challenging than others, but we cannot stop taking these steps because they are difficult. The goal now is to create opportunities and own them - the rest is all about adaptability. Sitting and complaining will not help, but rolling up our sleeves and getting on with it will. It is on uphill journeys that we reach new heights! This is what we are experiencing now. Enjoy the climb - together.
Investing in efficiency New buildings and modernisation of facilities at Westcon has led to more efficient operations. This means shorter delivery times and cost savings for clients. In a demanding market, it is important to be competitive in regard to time. Increased efficiency has been the goal for Westcon, which has invested more than NOK 200 million in the facilities in Ølen over the past two years. “We will contribute to reducing costs for our clients. Saving time has been the driving force behind the strategy for the new buildings. It has been important for us to take on even more production and new service areas under the cover of a roof, to secure the quality and efficiency of our deliveries,” says Arne Matre, Operations Manager at Westcon Yards.
Pipes in record time In the new Flerbrukshallen (multi-purpose hall), Westcon has gained highly modern facilities, which will ensure a wider range of service areas, including, among other things, a pipe workshop. “With the use of 3D-scanning we enter data directly into the pipe-bending machine. In this way, we can deliver tailor-made piping, precise to
the millimetre. The cutting, marking and bending of pipes is all done automatically and delivered within the hour,” says Matre.
New services under roof The new hall has made it possible for Westcon to accept the company’s first support assignment on a BOP. “With new overhead cranes and modern under-roof facilities, we have even more capacity to take on bigger assignments for drilling rigs and subsea projects,” says Matre.
Modern environmental commitment One year ago, several departments moved into the new Miljøhallen (environmental hall). Hosing, sandblasting, and painting are performed under one roof, in a sealed hall. “We have taken all environmental concerns into consideration here and avoid taking waste out of the hall. Instead of sand, we reuse steel pellets for sandblasting. In the hall, we can also raise the temperature to 40 degrees Celsius to ensure that the painting dries faster,” says Matre.
Rumour has it “We need to bring the market back to Norway, and the most efficient suppliers will win through. If we make this happen, we also secure jobs,” says Matre. Westcon has already received several re-
The Flerbrukshallen (multi-purpose hall) houses several departments, among them an assembly hall with two overhead cranes that can lift 160 tonnes up to 20 metres. In the adjoining room, the new storage facility has space for 1250 pallets. The pipe department in the hall covers over 3000 square metres. Photo: Øyvind Sætre
quests from abroad. Rumours have spread without much marketing. Several clients, also within the land-based process industry, have shown interest in the services Westcon has to offer as a result of the new buildings. “We are now equipped to run even more work through our facility. The capacity is large,” says Matre.
N E W FAC I L I T I E S I N Ø L E N New crane at dock 3 with a lifting capacity of 160 tonnes and a range of 80 metres. Westcon now has two cranes with this capacity. New storage system that has streamlined the logistics and operation of the stores where thousands of components are stored and handled. New 3 800-square-metre Miljøhallen (environmental hall) which houses sandblasting, painting, and hosing in a sealed hall. New Flerbrukshallen (multi-purpose hall) measuring 5 200 square metres, with highly-modernised facilities for several departments such as stores, assembly hall, pipe workshop, turbo department, and machine workshop. New pipe-bending machines that bend, cut, and mark pipes automatically in record time, reducing the work hours. A bend that previously would have taken 16 hours, now takes half an hour.
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Close cooperation with the client from the start of the project. From left – Project Manager, Geir Heggen, Senior Project Controller, Marit Aga Hustvedt, Project Engineer, Lars Toadalen, Lead Document Controller, Irene Heggen, and Lead Cost Controller, Elin Rødne. Photo: Meister Fotografi
A close cooperation between clients and Westcon, and the WIN portal, are key factors for a successful project.
WIN-win for
client and Westcon
Since the end of December, Westcon’s Offshore Department has planned for the installation of third-party equipment onboard the West Alpha rig. The work has consisted of engineering, fabrication, and installation offshore. Westcon has developed a web-based solution for the exchange of information via Westcon’s database for Project Management - WIN (Westcon Information System). The aim is to bring Westcon and clients closer together and improve the flow of documents, with respect to approvals, timesheet approvals, and cost reports.
Pilot project In this pilot project, Westcon has also performed larger parts of project tasks that previously lay with the client. This leads to improved efficiency and cost gains. “We see major benefits in being involved early
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in a project. Here, we can participate in developing solid, cost-efficient solutions, right from the start,” says Project Manager, Geir Heggen. Helge Vareberg, Project Manager from NADL (North Atlantic Drilling), is based in Stavanger and has access to Westcon’s database in Ølen. “WIN via web is a secure exchange of information. The client has their own user access and can log on to the system whenever they choose. This provides the client with a window into WIN and access to project materials, such as drawings, cost reports, and timesheets. In this way, the client is able to approve or request changes quickly and directly, which in turn improves efficiency,” says Marit Aga Hustvedt.
Safety in the driver’s seat “WIN is really the way to go. Everything was accessible, much more integrated, and the distance
between NADL and Westcon was much smaller,” says Vareberg, who also recognises that the solution has a large benefit in allowing the user to avoid handling lots of paperwork. West Alpha was planned complete, with operation in the Balder field in April. Afterwards, the rig was set to move on to another field that required the changing of third-party equipment. The work was performed in the field while the rig was in operation. “All of the work was performed without any unwanted incidents and within the planned schedule. Safety is in the driver’s seat at NADL and our client, ExxonMobil. Westcon has impressed in this area. They take the ownership required to ensure safety is taken seriously and this is very important to see in action when execution is in motion,” says Vareberg.
These are some of the disciplines Westcon in Norway and Poland can offer: Project management
Quality control
Structural design
Work packages
Piping design
Document control centre
Automation
Heavy lifts
Process
Layout
Mechanical
Insulation
Electrical
Architectural
Subsea
Mechanical completion
Stability
Flushing
Strength calculations
HVAC
Deck features
Painting
Programming
Hydraulics
3D-laser scanning
Instrument
3D modelling
As built
3D printing
Third-party verification
Animations
Specifications
Westcon can offer the client services from concept to completion and a strong engineering team, represented here by Engineering Manager, Endre Matre (left), engineer Viviann Matre, and Technical Manager Geir Trengereid. Photo: Meister Fotografi
One hundred and fifty dedicated, flexible, and highly-skilled engineers ensure that Westcon can help clients to identify the right solutions and secure all phases of project execution.
Smart solutions
built on practical experience Westcon has long experience within design, construction, reparation, rebuilding, and modification within shipping and rig sectors. Westcon has also acquired competency within 3D-laser scanning and 3D modelling. “We combine innovative thinking with proven methods in order to offer our clients tailored solutions. The difference between us and other engineering firms is that we work in close proximity to the production site and our experience in repairing ships and rigs enables us to know which solutions work in practice, therefore avoiding future repairs,” says Technical Manager, Endre Matre, in Westcon Yards.
to make a phone call and get answers and advice right away when they face challenges. “We also like to take responsibility for the conceptual part of the project, in order to ensure early involvement; this is an advantage for both the client and for ourselves. Other benefits that come with only having to deal with one engineering department are that the client saves both time and money by organising more user-friendly solutions,” says Matre. Westcon has 110 engineers in Norway and 40 in Westcon Design Poland, located in Szczecin. The departments complement each other and are set to undergo even closer integration.
An advantage for both client and Westcon
Much done in little time
Westcon’s experience is that clients often prefer
The offshore ship, Dina Star, is an example of
what Westcon can accomplish. The helipad and ROV deck needed to be installed and the ship arrived in Ølen with only general drawings. “This was a typical urgent assignment where Westcon took control and made a lot happen in a short space of time. The engineers made drawings and estimated on an ongoing basis, and received approvals as it was built in parallel. There was also some installation and maritime fitting for our partner, Deep Ocean. New challenges that emerged underway were promptly taken care of as work continued around the clock. I have never been to Westcon before, but it was a really great experience,” says CEO, Tore Myklebusthaug, from Myklebusthaug Management.
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“Safety in the workplace must be at the core of everything we do at Westcon. The goal is that everyone, every day, leaves work safe and sound,” says CEO, Øystein Matre, from Westcon Yards.
“We should never be when it comes to safety.”
The majority of the jobs in Ølen are focused on the rigs arriving at the yard for classing and reconstruction. Working on a rig docked at quay is intensive. “This type of assignment is complex, with many parallel operations taking place around the clock. It may even be the most difficult task to be found in this sector, as safety, delivery time and the use of resources depends on it,” says Øystein Matre and continues: “It is not unusual for work to take place at a height of 100 metres on the derrick. There is work going on at various levels – in tanks and divers in the sea. In the course of three to four weeks at quay, 1000 to 2000 people may be onboard a rig covering all possible disciplines, all with a different attitude and understanding of safety. Usually, they are excellent and experienced professionals but some have less experience. It is therefore important that we ensure that everyone has the necessary HSE knowledge. Matre estimates that 20 to 30 percent of the hours on this type of project go towards pure Health, Safety and Environment work. “When we plan an assignment, we create a so-called ‘bridging document’, which has the purpose of maintaining the yards’ and rig clients’ routines and safety requirements. A lot of time is spent tailoring safety courses, job analyses, toolbox meetings, and other meetings with everyone who needs to be involved.” “It is important to have an honest perception of our own skill level. If one of our yards does not have the necessary competency to understand and complete a job 100-percent safely, we hire specialists in this area.”
Important that management is visible “We should never be satisfied with ourselves when it comes to safety. Projects come and go at the yards. None of them are alike, and the same goes for the workers that perform the job. However, there is something to be said for the model they used in the 70s, and asking the simple questions: Have I understood the job? Have I understood what can go wrong and do I know the risk? Do I have
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the right equipment to perform the job safely? We have a four-point checklist, featuring the most important questions, on all access cards, in order to remind us of these points,” says Matre. From the climbers on the top of the derrick, to the divers in the sea, there is still a lot that can go wrong. “One of the most important things that management can do is to be visible at safety inspections and regular safety rounds. Frontline management carries a lot of responsibility on their shoulders. We cannot allow procedures to become routine and must ensure that everyone keeps their eyes open and does not stretch limits or try something out. ‘I was just going to…’ mentality must be avoided otherwise one incident can trigger others. If this happens at several points, things can go terribly wrong,” says Matre.
Readily sharing experiences It went terribly wrong in January. A diver, who performed a socalled routine assignment, got caught up and died a few days later. “All severe incidents, or incidents that have the potential of becoming severe, are reviewed. It is necessary to understand what went wrong and to learn and make corrections in cooperation with all of the involved parties.” A safe and good workplace is not created by making short term efforts, but by working long term with the right focus, Matre emphasises. “It is about keeping this up every day; like running a marathon without a finish line. When it comes to safety, there is nothing to be earned by keeping something secret. We gladly share our experiences within the industry so that we can learn from one another.” “What is it like to be a leader when a severe incident occurs?” “These are the most difficult days at work. One asks oneself all the time what could have been done to avoid the outcome. At Westcon, everyone should come home safe and secure, every day. At the same time, part of the job of a leader is to be there to lead others through the difficult days,” says Matre.
We gladly share our experiences within the industry so that we can learn from one another.
Øystein Matre, CEO in Westcon Yards
satisfied
“One of the most important things that management can do is to be visible at safety inspections and regular safety rounds,” says Øystein Matre, CEO in Westcon Yards. Photo: Terje Lunde
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The BOP has around 25 main components. Everything was completely disassembled in the large assembly hall for maintenance, modification and reassembly. Photo: Øyvind Sætre
The future of BOP classing
During spring, Westcon completed for the first time a five-year classing of a BOP indoors. With highly-modern facilities, the yard has the capacity to perform an entire job under roof, and can therefore offer streamlined BOP support to the rig market.
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This was Westcon’s first assignment of this type. The work with the BOP and the rig started January 4, and from February 27 the work with the five-year classing continued around the clock. Previously, rig companies have sent the BOPs to the manufacturers or the manufacturers’ partners. This project is a new milestone for Westcon given that all the work with the BOP was done in Ølen. On the engineering side, Westcon Subsea has had responsibility in cooperation with the client. “Traditionally, the different OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) take back their equipment and components in order to perform maintenance and modifications. This may extend the delivery time, as components
The rig under testing on the fjord and a very happy group from the assignment team. Mechanic, Bjarne Lunde, in Westcon Yards (left) and Project Engineer in Westcon Subsea, Anja Hauge, Christiansen (right), with the client’s representative (centre). Photo: Ellen Marie Hagevik/Medvind24
offer in terms of capacity and facilities. The BOP was lifted off the rig and into the 26-metre high assembly hall, which has two overhead cranes with a total lift capacity of 160 tonnes.
Completely disassembled
must be sent back to the manufacturer, be modified and then sent back to the rig. This time, all the work was performed at Westcon, which made the project more efficient. The OEM suppliers came to us and worked together with the team from Westcon and the rig client,” says Project Engineer, Anja Hauge Christiansen, in Westcon Subsea. In addition, a hydraulic control POD was overhauled and minor modifications performed, before the BOP was reassembled. The BOP is 15-metres high and weighs 280 tonnes. The work with disassembly, maintenance, modification and reassembly requires a lot of crane capacity. On this assignment, Westcon has had the opportunity to use all that the Flerbrukshallen (multi-purpose hall) has to
The BOP, which consists of 25 main components, was completely disassembled in the hall. Service inspections were performed on all components following OEM procedures, pressure testing, x-rays, and full maintenance completed, and some of the components exchanged. After sandblasting and painting the different components in the Miljøhallen (environmental hall), the BOP was as good as new. Six people from the mechanical division have worked on the BOP. “We have had bigger and more complicated jobs than this one before, but this is the first job we have done under roof. When we can get away with not setting up scaffolding, a tent, waiting for crane capacity, and everything else that is needed, half of the job is done already. With cranes in the ceiling and all necessary equipment in-house, the work becomes more efficient,” says Rune Håheim, Chairman for the machine and assembly hall.
Better security and quality According to the rig client, crane capacity is an Achilles heel in all types of jobs with rigs. By taking the BOP onshore, a lot of the crane capacity was freed. “It contributed to make the work on the rig more efficient. The fact that all work on the BOP could be performed inside had many benefits,
especially during the winter, when it is cold, wet, and slippery outside. To be able to work in a dry, temperate environment contributed to better safety, increased efficiency, and the quality of the work. By taking the BOP off the rig, one eliminates possible conflicts with other work that is happening on board. This contributes to increased safety and leads to calmer work in both locations,” according to the rig client, who also highlights the good cooperation with Westcon Subsea and the other departments from Westcon that have been involved. “This classing was not scheduled for completion now. The fact that we still made it during the planned length of time is due to Westcon having skilled people who are always available and good at finding solutions. We would not have reached our goal without being able to work in the assembly hall. This is absolutely the future for BOP maintenance and classing,” says a client representative.
Strategic investments provide added value For Westcon, this has been a good way of testing their ability to deliver maintenance of BOP as a new type of service. Many departments have been involved and new facilities, such as the assembly hall, have functioned as planned in terms of the client’s needs. “With everything in one place, the execution becomes more efficient and it is always good to see a satisfied client who wants to return to us. This project is a confirmation that the strategic investment Westcon has made in new facilities provides added value for the client,” says Steinar Matre, Department Manager in Westcon Subsea.
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Recently, the automation team on Husøy started using the new battery laboratory - “Here, we can, for example, test how our battery solutions will work for various cargo loads on ships. We also use the laboratory for further developing our expertise. It is important that our people feel comfortable when they are in the field. We can simulate boats and therefore test ourselves in realistic situations,” says Tor Magne Johannesen (left), together with Otto Koch. Photo: Meister Fotografi
The birthplace of ideas on Husøy
In the highly modern battery laboratory and simulator on Husøy, innovative Westcon solutions, for the oil and maritime industries, are increasingly born. Meet the technological hub at Westcon Power & Automation (WPA). The laughter comes easily and the conversations about work-related topics flow quickly on Husøy. To gather all knowledge in one place has been the key to WPA’s expansive development of technological solutions for both the oil and shipping industries. “We have considerable and varied competence in one place and have a broad professional environment. We have highly talented people; some with expertise in programming and electrical, and others with long experience from ship and industry who know how the solutions work in practice,” explains Project
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Leader for Products and Systems, Ragnar Langåker. With broad professional expertise, the automation team at WPA’s branch at Husøy has, over the last few years, been responsible for a range of innovative success stories for Westcon, including auto-landing bridges for Marine Aluminium, support tools for ex-inspections, replacements of old control systems on boat motors, and technological solutions for onshore power supply. The development of WPA’s own automation platform, e-SEAMatic, almost ten years ago, was the start of the expansive, technological
development. Today there are close to 100 plants that operate the platform. “e-SEAMatic is our own system which has been the foundation for several of the products and solutions that we have developed over recent years. Our program developers have created a support tool to standardise and improve production efficiency and updating of e-SEAMatic projects,” says Jens Magnar Tveit, Technical Leader for Automation.
Knowing what is needed For the members of this group, their area of expertise is not just a job. It is as much a lifestyle
“We have had a conscious strategy to focus on the development of our own technology in-house, otherwise this would not have been much fun. In this way, we have also created an attractive work place with a happy and creative environment,” says the automation and control team on Husøy. From left: Otto Koch, Ragnar Langåker, Torgeir Rasmussen, Tor Magne Johannesen and Jens Magnar Tveit. Photo: Meister Fotografi
and an interest, which has led to some of WPA’s innovative milestones over the last few years. In the new building, which includes the modern battery laboratory, the team has even more space, which further feeds the development of innovative technological solutions. The automation environment on Husøy consists of a larger team of engineers, automatic technicians, and electricians. Usually, good ideas are generated when they put their heads together with their client. In 2014, WPA delivered their first control system for hydraulic bridges to Marine Aluminium. Since then, approximately 30 bridges have been built, over 20 of them with WPA’s control system. Traditionally, the bridges are operated manually between two rigs, or between a rig and a boat; manoeuvring them is dependent on good weather. “In close dialogue with the client, we found solutions for automating this. The footbridge should be able to land automatically in weather that is worse than it is possible with manual operation. Advanced reference systems are developed in cooperation with Westcon 3D. This makes it possible to compensate for wave motion in a completely new way,” explains Manager for Research and Development, Torgeir Rasmussen.
Getting ahead with expertise Their knowledge of the clients, know-how, and competence from the field have been the keys to success for the many technological solutions from Husøy. “We are not know-it-all types. We use ac-
WPA use both their battery laboratory and simulator for testing, developing their expertise, and as a showroom. “This is a great way for us to demonstrate the technology,” says Torgeir Rasmussen. Photo: Meister Fotografi
knowledged standard products and apply our expertise to develop our own concepts tailored for our clients,” says Manager for Products and Systems, Gunvald Mortvedt. He emphasises that the clients need a combination of technological and practical competence from the industry. This was exactly the reason why Eidesvik chose WPA’s battery system for Viking Energy. WPA has worked for a long time to find more energy-efficient solutions for the maritime industry. The use of batteries became increasingly viable. With experience from electrical and automation work on, for example, hybrid ferries, the team at Husøy saw their opportunity to quickly launch a battery system for offshore ships. “In this case, it was important for us to display our expertise regarding ships, as well as technology. Eidesvik had good experience from Westcon Yards previously and they understood that WPA also knew what we were talking about. We won the contract with our knowledge of battery systems and because we know boats,” says Mortvedt.
Flexible We are also flexible and still small enough to send key personnel to the client, says Langåker. Flexibility when meeting with the client was the key to the development of e-SEAMatic ENCOS (Engine Control & Safety System), one of the latest innovations from Husøy. “Many boats have a control system that expires after 10 to 15 years of use. Following a specific inquiry, we developed a substitute for these systems. We mobilised our forces quickly
and delivered the project on time to a short deadline. We have received positive feedback from the client and have sent out several offers for the same product,” says Team Leader for Products and Systems, Otto Koch.
Environmentally-friendly commitment Onshore power supply is a highly relevant area of opportunity. Using an onshore power supply, costs and environmentally-damaging emissions from boats and rigs that are docked at quay are significantly reduced. “We are talking about the same building blocks that are used for our battery system, applied to other challenges. We are now building several onshore power supply containers, with systems that can be scaled in size,” explains Senior Engineer in Products and Systems, Tor Magne Johannesen. Onshore power supply is a future-oriented commitment, which has become increasingly applicable recently, says Koch. “Funds from, among others, Enova, for this kind of energy streamlining, have been a driving force in the market. However, it is also profitable to be environmentally friendly, even without supplementary funding,” he says. It will probably not be long before we see new, innovative energy solutions from the Westcon team on Husøy. “We have developed from being a department focussed solely on automation to one that is also engaged in electrical power solutions; it is this combination that we are banking on,” says Mortvedt.
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Gunvald Mortvedt (left) and Rune Heddeland by the test site, which has been used by the Solstad ship, Norman Progress, at the quay in Ølen. Photo: Meister Fotografi
Cutting climate emissions and noise Westcon is in the process of delivering a proprietary solution for onshore power supply, which has major market potential. Two of the systems that will be built on Westcons own yards have received environmental support from Enova.
oped the power units. Westcon Yards’ first three power units will be in place as early as June; one for a ship and one for a rig in Ølen, and another for a ship in Florø. Two of the power units have received approximately NOK 1.8 million in investment support from Enova’s first onshore power supply competition where NOK 82 million is divided amongst 13 projects.
“Over the last few years, Westcon has built up significant expertise regarding environmetallyfriendly energy solutions for the maritime industry. For onshore power supply solutions, we have a good dialog with harbours, shipyards, and ship owners. We are also in close communication with Enova, and deliver complete solutions for various energy needs,” says Frode Skaar, Manager for Sales and Business Development in Westcon Power & Automation (WPA), which has devel-
Seven percent of climate emissions from ships occur while they are docked at quay. Onshore power supply is an important initiative for reducing not only global emissions, but also local pollution and noise. “In order to have a stable onshore power supply, we need to do much more than simply connect a cable; the challenge lies in transforming the frequency and voltage of the onshore power supply, and matching it with what is used
Less pollution and noise
on ships and rigs. To do this, we need advanced equipment and solutions,” says Gunnar Mortvedt, Manager for Products and Systems in WPA.
Great market potential Putting it simply, the frequency for the onshore power supply is at 50 Hz, and 60 Hz on a ship. The voltage is normally 400 V and 450 to 690 V on a ship. In other words, there is not much equipment on board, which can be operated by regular onshore power supplies. “Many ships are idle and probably will be for a while. More ships will join them if the situation in the market continues as it is today. By using our onshore power supply system, the ships can be shut down and, at the same time, have access to the power they need. We are in the process of building a system for hire and this will have great market potential. Our only limitation at this point is a production time of two to three months,” says Mortvedt.
Can be the future of coastal transport The business group, NCE Maritime Clean Tech, of which Westcon Power & Automation (WPA) is a member, is behind the ‘two-vessel’ concept, Short Sea Pioneer. Stricter requirements regarding emissions and a desire to move more transportation from road to sea has created the need for new solutions for coastal transport.
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The revolutionary two-vessel solution is just as simple as it is smart; the mother ship is designed for key locations along the coast and to transport freight over long distances. The daughter ship, which could be battery operated, is responsible for transporting the cargo into smaller harbours and new cargo out to the mother ship. The trans-
fer of cargo will be done at sea. “This is an innovative and exciting project where Westcon, with its experience and skills, can play an important role. We want to be a part of the project and ensure that it is realised,” says Frode Skaar, Manager for Sales and Business Development in WPA.
Chance to perform the job themselves Westcon’s new support tool, Inspectio, has already been delivered to five projects in 2016. There is now also international interest in the solution. One year ago, a strategic choice was made to cut ties with the sub-supplier of software and take on all future development in Westcon Power & Automation (WPA). “Now we control everything ourselves and this gives us more flexibility in relation to development and our clients’ needs,” says Team Leader, Egil Brekke. A rig has between 3 000 and 12 000 Ex-tags, that is to say, items with Ex-equipment. Exequipment is specialised electrical equipment that is designed to prevent explosions in areas exposed to gas. Every single tag must be checked regularly, maintained, and repaired if needed; this is what Inspectio is used for.
Dramatic improvement “In performance, Inspectio is 30 to 40 percent more effective and there is a dramatic improvement in regard to documentation. Prior to using Inspectio, it could take several weeks to clean up documentation. Now, the job is done when we download the information from the tablet,” says Brekke. Westcon has supplied Inspectio to five proj-
ects since the New Year. WPA is currently negotiating an international contract for Inspectio that includes rigs in the South and North Atlantic. “A highlight in a market that is almost lifeless at the moment. We must therefore adjust, and Inspectio has contributed to this. The system is now so user-friendly that we can offer clients the chance to do the job themselves once we have set up the project and provided training,” says Kåre Topnes, Manager of Sales and Business Development for Oil and Gas.
Keeping personnel working The software solution was tested on a rig this spring and, after just a couple of hours of training, the inspectors on the rig were self-sufficient in the system. “Since the system is so intuitive and easy to use, it is a solution we can recommend to our clients. We supply user support and assist if required, either to answer questions, or to help in a hands-on manner. For our clients, this means they can keep their personnel working, ensure that work is carried out effectively, and save on costs,” says Topnes.
The inspectors perform the Ex-inspection using Inspectio on the tablet. The job is then uploaded to the Inspectio portal and the documentation is ready for reporting. Photo: Torodd F. Otterstad
Westcon and IKM enter ‘Ex’ alliance Along with IKM Elektro and IKM Instrutek, Westcon now offers an overall concept for ‘Ex’ and rotating equipment.
Photo: Torodd F. Otterstad
For many years, Westcon has developed an optimal support tool for existing maintenance systems on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. With the Inspectio tool, Westcon can offer periodic inspection, repair, and modification (IRM) on
Ex-equipment to clients, without making changes to existing maintenance systems. The tool is an important component in the alliance between Westcon and IKM. “Rig owners and operators have a strong focus on safety. This creates a need for comprehensive documentation for the Ex- equipment on oil installations. With IKM, we have a serious and strong partner with great capacity that takes care of the rotating Ex- equipment,” says Kåre Topnes, Manager of Sales and Business Development , Oil and Gas, in Westcon Power & Automation.
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The installation work, was a cooperation between Westcon Power & Automation (WPA) and Westcon Yards and was completed in two weeks. Project Manager in Yards, Kolbein Lunde (left), and Project Manager in WPA, Kristian Eikemo (middle), have been at the forefront of the assignment on Viking Energy. Here, together with Project Manager for Product and System in WPA, Ragnar Langåker. Behind them, the installment of the yellow battery container takes place. Photo: Ellen Marie Hagevik/Medvind24
Environmentally aware
with batteries from Westcon Battery technology is rapidly being adopted by an increasing number of ship owners. Norway is in the driving seat and Westcon is taking part in this development. Westcon installed the first battery system on the Eidesvik ship, Viking Energy, in April.
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Westcon has worked on the development of maritime batteries for three years. The goal has been to develop an environmentally-friendly battery system that also reduces costs. “It’s a milestone for us that an innovative and technologically future-oriented company such as Eidesvik chose our solution,” says Ragnar Langåker, Project Manager for Products and Systems in Westcon Power & Automation (WPA).
Finding the best solutions Eidesvik chose Westcon’s solution for several reasons, says the company’s Vice President
of Technology and Development, Vermund Hjelland. “The use of batteries on ships will grow in the future. It was important for us to enter into cooperation with a local organisation that understands this fact. Westcon has already come a long way in its development of battery systems and we believe in their solutions. We are extremely happy with the job performed by both WPA and Yards. The level of expertise and the service has been unique,” says Hjelland. The battery system was installed in cooperation with Westcon Yards. In addition to develop-
Viking Energy is the world’s first hybrid ship which has notation from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) for dynamic positioning. This is a milestone for both Westcon and Eidesvik. To the left, Svein Helge Juell from DNV-GL and the captain on Viking Energy, Geir Magne Eltvik, with the certificate.
F A C T B OX : The world’s first hybrid ship with dynamic positioning. Dynamic positioning is a method that keeps ships in the same position without using an anchor, by using the ship’s own propellers. As a hybrid ship, Viking Energy will, among other things, replace the power from one of the motors with the battery when the ship is in dynamic positioning.
ing the battery system, Westcon has, in recent years, been involved in work on several ships that utilise battery technology. “We have become familiar with the challenges and possibilities associated with battery packages on offshore ships and ferries. This has provided us with a good starting point for identifying good solutions,” says Otto Koch, Team Leader for Products and Systems in WPA.
Reducing energy use and wear and tear With battery use on ships, energy consumption will be reduced as a result of more optimal load on the engines. The ship will also be able to stop one engine, which means less maintenance on the machinery. The batteries therefore contribute to reducing emissions of NOx, CO2, and other gasses. Ship batteries also have a peak shaving effect, where the battery equalises the load on the motors leading to less pressure on the machinery. Hybrid ships also have a larger redundancy,
Photo: Ellen Marie Hagevik/Medvind24
which means that they are more flexible and reliable. Viking Energy, which has four motors, will be able to use the batteries as an extra motor in an emergency. Viking Energy will be the first ship that can run on, so-called, dynamic positioning as a hybrid. Ships that run with dynamic positioning under oil rigs in operation use a lot of fuel since they must have a reserve engine be running at all times. The motors will therefore run on a very low load, which results in higher consumption and emissions. With the use of batteries, this will be significantly reduced, as the ship can shut down one generator and replace this with the battery.
Way ahead “Many people are excited to see how battery-driven ships will handle dynamic positioning. There are special requirements regarding how the batteries should work. Amongst other things, there must always be a certain amount of power available as the ships must be capable of leaving
Photo: Eidesvik
the rig quickly in an emergency,” says Langåker. “There are major developments within battery technology. Norway, and perhaps particularly the western part of the country, is positioned to be a world leader in the use of batteries on ships. There are enormous possibilities here,” says Langåker. Enova is the driving force behind the environmentally-friendly restructuring of energy use, and has provided investment support to ship owners that want to use batteries. Interest is rising, says Market Manager, Petter Hersleth, in Enova. “Norway has become very good at the technology surrounding maritime batteries, in large part thanks to the comprehensive maritime industry in the country. We will see even more development in the future and it is the suppliers and ship owners that are the most ambitious now, and they will ensure the next generation of batteries on ships and ferries. Westcon has developed a good system and I believe we will see more of this in the years to come.”
Batteries for the rig market Rig companies have also started to show interest in batterydriven solutions. Battery use on rigs is a relatively new concept, but several rig companies have already looked
into the technology, according to Ragnar Langåker. “We have had visitors from leading rig companies that have looked closely at the installations we have performed on ships. Batteries will function on rigs in almost the same way, but with a different operating mode. In addition, rigs that
are anchored will require more power. The use of batteries on rigs will be a development to what we already have,” he explains. It does not require particularly larger battery packs, just a different type of package that provides more effect over a shorter period of time due to the shorter fluctuations of power on rigs.
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Offshore ships, fishing boats, and cargo ships will always be a priority for us, but it is important to have more than one leg to stand on. Georg Matre, Manager for Ship Repairs at Westcon Yards
The Norwegian Armed Forces and ferries dock at Westcon There is a lot of traffic at the docks and quays in Helgeland, Florø and Ølen. Coastguard vessels and ferries are shuttling in and out of Westcon’s yards along the entire coast. “We have had a small change in focus and have looked increasingly to clients outside the oil and gas industry. Activity has increased in 2016, and we are standing firm in the market with new, large clients both in the Norwegian Armed Forces and several ferry companies. Offshore ships, fishing boats, and cargo ships will always be a priority for us, but it is important to have more than one leg to stand on,” says Manager for Ship Repairs, Georg Matre. Currently, defence ships and ferries are what counts. This year, the ship department at Westcon was awarded a two-year contract with the Norwegian Armed Forces, which includes the option of extending for two one-year periods. At the same time, several ferry companies along
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the coast regularly dock in for maintenance, modifications, repairs, classing and reconstruction.
Large agreement “The ship department in Westcon has previously done sporadic assignments for the Norwegian Armed Forces. The new frame agreement we have entered into is one of the largest frame agreements Westcon’s ship department has ever secured,” says Matre. The agreement includes a five-year classing, intermediate classing, corrective maintenance and repairs on the coastguard ships KV Svalbard, KV Harstad, and the so-called Nordkapp class, which consists of the ships KV
The rebuilding assignment on KV Andenes started at the beginning of April and is being performed at Westcon Yards in Ølen. The rebuilding will be completed by summer this year. Photo: Ellen Marie Hagevik/Medvind24
The Norled ferry, MF Oppedal, arrived at Westcon Yards in Florø on May 25 and was there until 3 June. Florø’s covered dock is the largest dock in Westcon`s four yards. Photo: Westcon
Andenes, KV Nordkapp and KV Senja. A rebuilding assignment is also underway on KV Andenes, but this is not included in the frame agreement.
“We look forward to cooperating with the Norwegian Armed Forces. The contract is important to us,” says Manager for Ship Repairs in Westcon Yards, Georg Matre, to the right. Together here with the commanding officer on KV Andenes, Vidar Henriksen. Photo: Meister Fotografi
need the biggest dock of the four Westcon yards, which is 200 metres long and 40 metres wide with a superstructure.
Planning new and larger dock A lot of ferry traffic
KV Svalbard to Florø The coastguard ships will be docked at the yards in either Helgeland, Florø, Ølen or Karmsund, depending on where the vessels are located along the coast. The agreement with the Norwegian Armed Forces means a lot for the ship business in Florø, says Manager for Ship Repairs at Westcon Yards in Florø, Terje Totland. “Now, we know which boats and assignments we have coming up. We have predictability in our work schedule. Usually, we work based on a short timeframe where we have to plan from week to week. Now, we can work based on a longer perspective,” says Totland. KV Svalbard will be the first ship to undergo classing at Westcon, and will arrive in Florø this autumn. Both the galley and the mess will be rebuilt, and the yard will also take care of some of the steel work on deck. The ship is large and will
has doubled,” says General Manager in Westcon Helgeland, Arnt Skogsøy.
“Many clients wish to have their ships’ jobs completed under-roof, which, among other things, ensures a higher quality paint job. Today, ship reparation makes up the largest part of the business here at the yard in Florø,” says Totland. In the first half of the year, the yard in Florø has already had ferries on site for 80 days for service and rebuilding. Ferries have become an important part of the business for all of the Westcon yards. Ferries from both Fjord1 and Norled regularly dock for repairs and maintenance at Westcon Yards in Ølensvåg. Fifteen ferries have been in Ølen during the first half of 2016. Westcon’s yard in Helgeland signed a frame agreement with Boreal in 2014, which includes the repairs, maintenance, and modification of 14 ferries in total. “We have always had many vessels in the drydock, but with the ferries from Boreal the traffic
Today, Westcon at Helgeland has a dry-dock measuring 100 metres long and 25 metres wide. A significant upgrade of the dock started last year. A bigger port towards the sea was installed, and the dock will be covered completely during the course of the summer; work can then be completed entirely indoors. At the same time as the vessels shuttle in and out of the Helgeland yard, a new extension is being planned, which will allow Westcon to double capacity on the coast of Helgeland. “We are planning a new dry dock, 140 metres long and 35 metres wide, which will be ready in the course of two to three years. The frame agreement with Boreal will be renegotiated this year and we believe and hope that we will have the same level of activity with ship repairs and maintenance for several years to come,” says Skogsøy.
Totally turbo around the clock Westcon Turbo is Westcon’s smallest department with two employees, and performs all kinds of repairs and maintenance on diesel-turbos. Henri van Beersum og Jarle Winterthun head out anytime and anywhere in the world. Whether clients are located in Stokmarknes or Shanghai, they are there in just the time it takes to fly, or they perform service and repair work in Ølensvåg.
Van Beersum estimates that 75 percent of the assignments are external. The remaining 25 percent are jobs for Westcon. The department falls under shipping repairs and reports to Georg Matre. Their clients range from small fishing boats to large shipping companies and other yards and their assignments can take anywhere from hours to weeks.
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Westcon Subsea win contracts in a tough m With excellent subsea expertise and highly-modernised facilities, Westcon Subsea has made a breakthrough in this demanding market. This has led to prestige agreements with Statoil and supply to Martin Linge field. Westcon Subsea is not yet three years old, but has already supplied subsea equipment to a range of projects around the world. At the yard in Florø, significant investments in new equipment have been made, which has positioned the
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company for all types of supply of equipment and services to the subsea industry.
Capturing contracts “We use new robot-controlled fabrication equipment, which results in fewer hours of work, shorter delivery times, and lower costs for our clients. Combined with the expertise of our skilled workers, this has enabled us to be competitive in a market with tough competition and high demands within HSE and Quality. We have managed to secure contracts, deliver competitive prices, and complete projects without incidents and errors. This provides the client with security,” says General Manager at Westcon Yard’s Florø branch, Mikael Johansen. The Florø yard has been at the centre of Weston’s subsea organisation. Over the past
year, the department has delivered modules to a range of large projects around the world, including the MoHo field off the coast of West Africa. During the summer, Westcon Subsea will deliver riser bases and steel-protecting structures for Subsea 7, destined for the Martin Linge field where Total is the operator. “The project has been a test of strength,” says Manager in Westcon Subsea, Steinar Matre.
Broad approach to the market “This has been a prestigious project for us. The client has made strict demands of us in regard to quality, precision, project execution, and documentation in all phases. The delivery to Martin Linge has been an important reference project for us, and it is proof that we are poised to supply services to extensive and demanding projects,”
Currently, more than 50 employees are working on subsea projects for Westcon. The largest assignment over the past year has been the production of riser bases and steel-protecting structures for Subsea 7 that will travel on to the Martin Linge field. Photo: Meister Fotografi
As part of Westcon’s subsea commitment in Florø, the yard has invested in highly-modernised facilities. In the fabrication hall, the yard has, among other things, a plasma-burning machine and a robot-cutter for pipes and other profiles. Operator, Kevin Tyvoll (left), and engineer, Jan Erik Espeseth, operate the new profile cutter. Photo: Meister Fotografi
Secured maintenance contract with Statoil
ning arket explains Matre. In addition to the larger deliveries, Westcon produces modules and performs maintenance on smaller projects for clients such as Statoil, Subsea 7, Technip, EMAS, GE, and OneSubsea. Westcon has positioned itself to be a broad supplier to the market, delivering to both the subsea production market and the SURF market (Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines). “Typical suppliers within subsea often focus towards one of the two markets, but we have the facilities, equipment, and not least, the competency to deliver to both. We are now competing for supply to subsea projects in both the Norwegian and international sectors,” says Matre.
Goal-orientated work has led the way. Westcon Subsea, in cooperation with WellConnection, will be responsible for maintenance on parts of Statoil’s subsea equipment at several locations in Norway. “Firstly, this is a major exhibition of trust from Statoil. We also believe that this agreement is a door opener for us; other clients will look to Westcon Subsea for services and product deliveries,” says Manager for Westcon Subsea, Steinar Matre.
Collected specialist expertise The agreement was signed in May, with immediate start, and has a duration of two years with the option of extending for up to six additional years. Westcon will be responsible for the maintenance work at all of Statoil’s base locations in cooperation with WellConnection, who will perform the maintenance tasks on the bases in Kristiansund and at Mongstad. “The cooperation agreement with WellConnection and the collective specialised expertise we represent has, without a doubt, been a factor in our success. We now look forward to working
with Statoil and developing our commitment further,” says Steinar Matre, Manager for the Subsea Department in Westcon. The agreement includes maintenance and overhauling of defined parts of the subsea equipment that Statoil has in storage. There is also an option to extend this scope onshore and offshore. In the past, Westcon has produced advanced subsea equipment for Statoil for use on several subsea developments.
A milestone “This agreement is not only recognition of the expertise we have developed and the results we have delivered. The agreement also adds more predictability to our upcoming assignments,” says Matre. Since the focus on the production and maintenance of underwater units started a little over two years ago, Westcon has performed a range of subsea assignments. The frame agreement is yet another milestone for Westcon’s successful subsea commitment. “Maintenance assignments are also a strategic focus area for us. Amongst other things, we have recently performed maintenance of a BOP. In relation to maintenance assignments, we are also looking into opportunities to strengthen the organisation to meet the increasing workload,” says Matre. JUNE 2016
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Test of strength with Safe Scandinavia Foto: Ă˜yvind SĂŚtre
We have enjoyed a taste of what it’s like to run large projects. Bård Hovde, Project Manager in Westcon Yards
On 21 March 2015, the accommodation platform, Safe Scandinavia, docked at Westcon Yards. One year later, it sailed to Oseberg Øst as a Tender Support Vessel. Safe Scandinavia is one of Westcon’s greatest tests of strength to date. Competence in all of Westcon’s areas of expertise was utilised in the rebuild; personnel from Westcon Offshore Services, equipment and services from Westcon Løfteteknikk, design and electrical work from Westcon Power & Automation (WPA), scanning from Westcon 3D Solutions, and construction and modules from Westcon Yards in Ølensvåg, Helgeland og Florø. “We have long experience in the rebuilding of rigs, but have never had a project as complex and comprehensive as this before. We have enjoyed a taste of what it’s like to run large projects, and Westcon has, once again, shown that it has the muscle and expertise required to tackle a comprehensive assignment like this one,” says Project Manager in Westcon Yards, Bård Hovde.
Safe Scandinavia “We already had a great deal of experience in reparation, but we had never had such a large modification job before. It was an educational experience and a very important reference project for us,” says Engineering Manager of Safe Scandinavia, Kristina Kasetaite. Photo: Øyvind Sætre
A pioneering project for Westcon
Westcon was to provide resources across all disciplines to the project; piping, electrical, mechanical. We are solid in all disciplines, and, in this case, all areas should work on the same task. Lukasz Manczak, Engineering Manager of Safe Scandinavia
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Compared to other large rig projects, Westcon was involved in Safe Scandinavia at a much earlier phase in the project, starting engineering work as early as February 2014, one year before the rig’s arrival. The yard in Ølensvåg was given responsibility for everything from design and procurement, to the production of modules, electrical work, and installation and testing. “The challenges were first and foremost related to how well the basis for the engineering phase would agree with the actual conditions on the rig when it arrived. This turned out to be a complex part of the job,” says Hovde. This was the first time that Westcon would take responsibility for the design portion of a rig project. “We had to deal with a completely new package,” says Engineering Manager of Safe Scandinavia, Kristina Kasetaite.
Large resource requirement “We prepared the design based on the client’s functional requirements, as defined by Statoil. During the design process we also coordinated the approval rounds with DNV, cooperated with the client, subcontractors, and other Westcon departments working on the project,” says Kasetaite, who went on leave just before the rig’s arrival.
Lukasz Manczak took over as Engineering Manager on the project. As a result of the fact that Westcon had joined the project at such an early stage, the workload grew consequentially larger. The project required more resources in engineering, design and drawings, than had been necessary on earlier rig assignments. “Westcon was to provide resources across all disciplines to the project; piping, electrical, mechanical. We are solid in all disciplines, and in this case all areas should work on the same task. One challenge, with such a complex project, is managing resources and coordinating the project map,” says Manczak.
Ready for new test of strength Approximately one third of the living-quarter module was demolished and replaced with modules and equipment to drive production, storage and processing of drilling fluid, and the receipt of cuttings. Modifications like these also affect the rest of the vessel. Most areas and functions on the rig were upgraded as a result of this. “It was an extremely educational process for us. We now understand the market much better and are ready to secure new design and engineering contracts that are large in scope,” says Kasetaite.
“A modification like this also affects the rest of the vessel, and we have upgraded most areas and features of the rig as a result. Among other things, we have upgraded the existing safety systems on board because of the rig’s new application,” says Project Manager, Bård Hovde. Photo: Westcon 3D
Technological development on Safe Scandinavia At the same time as Westcon Yards mobilised large forces in the engineering phase, WPA started their preparations. “Before Safe Scandinavia there was only one project that could compare in terms of size, and that was the Scarabeo 8 project. However, this time we were facing a completely different scope,” says Project Manager for WPA on Safe Scandinavia, Bjørnar Tveit. As early as October 2013, the first engineers from WPA started preparing for the task at hand. WPA was responsible for all of the electrical and automation work on the rig, from design, planning, procurement and delivery, to assembly, installation, and documentation.
Both adviser and installer The Safe Scandinavia project is WPA’s most technical and complex project in the rig market to date, setting newer and higher demands, especially with regard to planning, says Tveit. “Clients usually have a specified assignment for us. In the case of Safe Scandinavia, in addition to the actual execution of all electrical and automation work, we were also to create specifications for what should be done and how the
rig should be rebuilt. Our challenge was to adapt from smaller, defined assignments, to a large project where we would also provide advisory services ahead of the actual project execution,” says Tveit.
Complete supplier WPA was also responsible for the procurement of systems. “This is a function the client normally takes care of. In this case, WPA was the total supplier for electrical work, where we were responsible for both the procurement of systems and installation of electrical and instrument,” says Tveit. In October 2014, WPA manned up and the entire rig department was engaged in the work. At its peak, WPA had 400 people on the job. “Safe Scandinavia has become a very important reference project for us in the rig market. This assignment has contributed to major technological developments in WPA’s expertise. This project has pushed us beyond our previous limits and now we know that we can manage an assignment of this magnitude,” says Tveit.
Safe Scandinavia has become a very important reference project for us in the rig market. Bjørnar Tveit, Project Manager, Weston Power & Automation on Safe Scandinavia
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Safe Scandinavia
Thanks to Westcon’s brand new facilities and machinery for pipe production, the pipe team were able to change out a total of 170 metres of piping in two weeks. Photo: Kari Aakra/Medvind24
Pipe rebuild in record time
Traditionally, this part of the job, including welding, would take three times longer. Arne Vaka, responsible for coordinating the piping work on board Safe Scandinavia
With new pipe-bending technology, Westcon completed the pipe rebuild on Safe Scandinavia in a third of the time that it would have taken using traditional piping methods. Safe Scandinavia was modified, in part, to produce mud for Oseberg Øst. Mud will be mixed to the finished product on board Safe Scandinavia. Not long before the rig was set to leave Westcon, a decision was made to change the size and routing of the piping system, used for mixing mud. The job had to be completed as soon as possible and the solution was a combination of traditional methods and new Westcon technology. “We took on the challenge. The pipework had a diameter of six inches, which had to be increased to eight inches. We’ve previously undertaken similar operations, but with a combination of older piping principles and the utilisation of new technology, we managed to complete this work in a fraction of the time we would normally use,” says Arne Vaka who was responsible for coordinating the piping work on board the rig.
Time-saving technology The piping team adopted a method that is seldom used in low-pressure mud systems. “We use so-called victaulic clamps, where we made grooves in the pipes. This avoids welding of pipe connections. We had already ordered a machine that had the capacity to create grooves in pipes such as
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these – this saved time,” explains Vaka. Utilising 3D-laser scanning, the entire room and all of the pipes were scanned within the space of one day. An additional half-day was required to process the data from the scan. “The use of 3D scanning not only saved a lot of time compared with traditional measurement by hand, it also ensured increased accuracy. The information that was captured by the scan was then processed by programs that modelled the tubes in their new dimensions and, simultaneously, ensured that there was enough space in the room,” says Vaka.
New opportunities Based on these models, drawings were created in order to enable the start of production. The actual pipe production was also streamlined considerably due to the use of Westcon’s new pipe-bending machines. Fourteen days after the scanning started, a total of 170 metres of six-inch pipe was replaced with brand new eight-inch pipe. “We have undertaken similar challenges previously, but have not bent as many pipes in these dimensions before, and never with the use of the capabilities that the pipe machine and 3D-scanning has given us. Using the pipe machine and automatic pipe store that both cuts and bends pipes, we saved a considerable amount of time. Traditionally, this part of the job, including welding, would take three times longer,” says Vaka .
The mud-mix module is 24 metres long and 12 metres wide and is one of the largest stand-alone structures ever produced here. Henning Slåke, Foreman in the steel hall, at Westcon Yards
Safe Scandinavia’s 170-tonne mud-mix module was produced at Westcon Yards in Ølen. The module was so large that it had to be transported in two parts, using lifting barges from Eide Lift, the 200-300 metres from the plate hall to the quay, ahead of the rig’s arrival. Photo: Kari Aakra/Medvind24
Modules from around the country Employees from many of Westcon’s locations have been heavily involved in the project process. Both Westcon Florø and Westcon Helgeland fabricated modules, including four new blisters that were manufactured and delivered by Westcon in Helgeland. The blister assignment is one of the largest fabrication jobs Westcon in Helgeland has had in recent years and a total of 40 people took part in the project.
smallest part weighed at least 70 tonnes, and that was only the shell,” explains Foreman in the steel hall, Herring Slåke. Following assembly, the module was covered up and insulated, and further equipment, electrical systems, and tanks were mounted in place. During the installation of this module, as with all parts of the rig assignment, resources from all of Westcon’s disciplines took part.
170-tonne mud-mix module
Result of good cooperation
From October 2014 until the rig’s arrival, a 170-tonne mud-mix module was produced at Westcon Yards in Ølen. “The mud-mix module is 24 metres long and 12 metres wide and is one of the largest stand-alone structures ever produced here. The module was so large that the whole structure did not fit in the plate hall at one time and had to be transported in two parts, using lifting barges from Eide Lift, the 200-300 metres from the plate hall to the quay, ahead of the rig’s arrival. The largest part of the structure weighed 100 tonnes and the
“Safe Scandinavia has been a combination of a marathon and a strength test for us. There are very few companies that could have taken on a task like this in the short time available. Westcon has sharpened its skills in all disciplines and as a result of great cooperation between the various departments, we have shown that we are able to take on projects regardless of the complexity and scope,” summarises Project Manager, Bård Hovde.
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Artemis Athene, at 92 metres, is the largest boat in Maritim Management’s fleet. From July 1, the ship will perform OBC (Ocean Bottom Cable) 3D-seismic for Magseis in the Red Sea. Illustration: Magseis
F A C T B OX : Westcon Geo (100 percent owned by Westcon) owns the ships via subsidiary companies. Maritim Management (100 percent owned by Westcon) operates the ships, staffs them, and follows them up. Magseis (Westcon is majority stakeholder) hires in one of the ships to perform seismic operations. The other ships are leased to oil companies and seismic companies around the world
To the Red Sea
with Magseis
Maritime Management’s seismic ship, Arthemis Athene, is ready for a year on the Red Sea as part of an assignment for Magseis, who will provide bottom-seismic services to BGP and Aramco. The seismic company, Magseis, with Westcon as its majority stockholder, secured a sizeable contract with the state-owned oil company in Saudi Arabia, Aramco, earlier this year. Magseis, in cooperation with the Chinese seismic company, BGP, will deliver bottom-seismic services to an Aramco project in the Red Sea. “We have a five-year contract from Magseis, and Artemis Athene will shoot seismic in the Red Sea from July 1 this year until May 1, 2017. This is a
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long contract considering the current market and we are very happy to join Magseis on a comparatively large assignment like this,” says CEO in Maritim Management, Sigurd Rekkedal.
Manoeuvring on the world seas The bottom-seismic ship, Artemis Athene, is the largest ship in Maritim Management’s fleet. Maritime Management has a fleet of five seismic ships that are hired out to leading seismic and oil companies around the world. The ships are easy to manoeuvre and can shoot both bottom seismic, 2D, 3D, and 4Dseismic in challenging sea and weather conditions. The ships, Artemis Atlantis and Artemis Arctic, completed their assignments in Malaysia and Mexico respectively this spring and later set course for home towards Norway. The seismic ship, Sigma, completed a job in Brazil, whilst
Artemis Angler is now laid up in Karmsund.
Many requests Maritim Management has also felt the slowdown in the market and even though many of the ships are now laid up, Rekkedal believes new assignments will be arriving soon. “We are continually working towards new contracts. Over the past months, there has been a significant increase in requests. Many of these requests refer to 2017, so we are looking forward to an active year,” says Rekkedal. Maritim Management currently has 250 employees, most of whom are crew on board the ships. As the requests roll in, the company is working towards an even broader client portfolio. “We are looking to new clients and more clients and are committed to securing more assignments within the sector of towing of shorter cables,” says Rekkedal.
The bachelor thesis of Victor Meyer (left) and Trond Saures (right) deals with a new system for material flow from reception, to steel storage and the cutting hall, before further production. “We received an enormous amount of help from Rune Hovland (middle) at Westcon Florø, and have learned a lot about the challenges and opportunities associated with the operation and maintenance of large yards,” says Meyer. Photo: Meister Fotografi
Great education at Westcon
This spring, bachelor degree students from Høgskolen i Bergen and Høgskolen Stord/ Haugesund have written their bachelor theses at Westcon. While contributing with new ideas and solutions for the company, the experience they gain in their time of practice is invaluable for those who want to work in an industry that is constantly changing. The third-year students, Victor Meyer and Trond Saure, from the Høgskolen i Bergen (HiB, Bergen University College), have used Westcon Yards in Florø, this year, as a case study for their Bachelor thesis, where they are developing a new system for the flow of materials from steel storage, through the cutting hall, and to production. “We have learned a lot during our time here and now have a completely different view of what it means to operate and maintain large yards like Westcon does. It is a complex arena facing many
challenges. We hope that our bachelor thesis can contribute with solutions and ideas that Westcon can use in the future,” say Mayer and Saures.
Benefit for Westcon Production Manager for Westcon Florø, Jostein Russøy, has mentored the two students and now looks forward to utilising their competency further. “We are very excited about the results and believe this can be a helpful tool for us,” says Russøy. For several years, Westcon has taken inn students, both in Florø and Ølen. This year, future-machine and process engineers from both HiB and the Høgskolen Stord/Haugesund (HSH, Stord/Haugesund University College) have used their time at the yard in Ølen to gain practical experience and write their Bachelor theses. Machine engineer, William Park, mentored the students in Ølensvåg and notes that they contribute by completing the tasks that Westcon employees do not get around to doing during a
busy workday. “The tasks that the students complete can benefit us in the future. They see the business from new perspectives and come up with new ideas that we don’t see for ourselves,” says Park.
Good preparation for working life Westcon welcomes students for both practical engineering experience and to write their bachelor theses. The fact that companies like Westcon offer students this opportunity is invaluable, says Program Coordinator at the HiB department in Florø, Øyvind Østrem. “In today’s market, it is tougher to find companies that can take in and mentor students. Many companies have a different focus now, and many are downsizing to the point that they do not have the capacity to do this. Westcon has been proactive and future-oriented on an ongoing basis. It is incredibly important for the students and for us. Here, the students have access to real-world tasks, which help to prepare them to work in an industry that is changing quickly,” says Østrem.
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By aiming its focus on clients, Westcon Løfteteknikk has secured new clients and extended frame agreements with heavyweights in the oil and gas industry.
“We grow with our clients”
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“We shall grow with our clients. Our goal is to create a win-win situation for our clients and us as a supplier,” says Karl Johan Jentoft, CEO in Westcon Løfteteknikk. Improving competency and a continual client focus are keywords in Løfteteknikk’s strategic commitment towards both existing and new clients - and this has produced results.
Det norske will utilise both services and products from Westcon’s lifting-technique expertise over the next four years. The company chose Løfteteknikk’s complete concept, which includes everything from the sale and hire of cranes and lifting equipment, regulatory control, mechanical, rope-access technique, and certified and documented safety training.
Present on permanent installations
Multidisciplinary commitment
During the past year, Westcon Løfteteknikk has secured several frame agreements. Some of the frame agreements are with clients that have worked with Løfteteknikk for several years, including Aibel, Maersk and Subsea 7. The newcomers to Løfteteknikk’s client list are Det norske and Statoil, who, for the first time, have entered into long-term, extensive frame agreements for the delivery of both services and products from Løfteteknikk. “We have worked actively in the market with extensions to our existing contracts, as well as working towards new clients. Among other things, we have worked hard to establish ourselves on permanent installations and are proud to have achieved this goal with both Statoil and Det norske,” says Jentoft. In cooperation with Oceaneering, Westcon Løfteteknikk will provide regulatory control of non-complex lifting equipment for Statoil. Løfteteknikk will also take care of maintenance and control on the hoist containers for Statoil. “Containers with advanced lifting equipment go on rotation through our department in Stavanger, where we shall perform controls, certification and maintenance on the equipment,” says Jentoft.
“We have put a lot of work into building solid relations with our clients and we develop our expertise based on what our clients need. This has made it easier for us to continue the agreements with current clients,” says Jentoft. Løfteteknikk has worked strategically to make visible the whole spectre of services and products that they offer. “If we have long-term agreements in one area, for example, regulatory control, we work actively to promote the width of our skill-base in order to offer other disciplines, such as engineering services and technical sales,” says Jentoft. One contributing factor why Løfteteknikk has secured agreements of volume recently is the company’s dedication to multidisciplinary personnel. “Løfteteknikk has focused on improving the competency of its employees and can therefore perform assignments with less people, because the employees have the expertise required to work across various departments,” says Jentoft .
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Complete concept “Løfteteknikk has a goal of acquiring the competency that the client needs and to sell additional services to our large-volume clients. This secures
C O N T R AC T S AWA R D E D T O W E S T C O N LØF TETEKNIKK IN THE L AST 12 MONTHS:
continuity in our operations, whilst also reducing costs for our clients,” says Jentoft. Aibel has been a long-term client of Løfteteknikk, and will now utilise Løfteteknikk’s complete concept. Several individual contracts were rolled into one agreement in February, which includes Løfteteknikk’s entire range of services, from product deliveries to services including regulatory control, access techniques, project services and training courses. “In times like these, many look towards new markets and keep an eye on clients in other industries. Regardless, we have specialised in oil and gas and this is where we want to develop our skills in order to secure an even larger share of the market,” says Jentoft.
July 2015: Two frame agreements with Dolphin Drilling. The agreements include inspection of lifting equipment on three of the company’s rigs: Borgland Dolphin, Bideford Dolphin, and Bredford Dolphin. The agreements has a duration of three years with the option to extend for two additional years. November 2015: Extended agreement with Maersk Drilling for 12-month regulatory control, regulatory practice, NDT (Non Destructive Testing), and access techniques. The agreement have a duration of three years. December 2015: Extended frame agreement with Saipem. Includes inspection of lifting equipment and inspection of falling objects. December 2015: Two four-year frame agreements with Statoil.
Includes maintenance and control of Statoil’s hoist containers and regulatory control of non-complex equipment. June 2015: Three-year agreement with Statoil. The agreement includes training within fall protection and fall safety for the next three years. January 2016: Four-year agreement signed with Det norske. Includes all services within Westcon Løfteteknikk’s complete concept. February 2016: Five-year agreement with Aibel which includes Løfteteknikk’s complete concept. February 2015: Extended agreement with Subsea 7. The new five-year agreement includes the operation of Subsea 7’s lifting equipment, regulatory control, and the sale and hire of lifting equipment.
“Just like it is in football; it is at our home stadium that we should be best. We look to other markets, but it is still in oil and gas that we want to sharpen our expertise,” says Karl Johan Jentoft, CEO in Westcon Løfteteknikk. Photo: Kari Aakra/Medvind24
Continued trust from Dolphin Westcon Løfteteknikk’s quality, price and service won over Dolphin Drilling Westcon Løfteteknikk is an expert company within cranes and lifting, and is, today, a leading supplier of lifting products, certification and control, design and product development, courses and training, rope-access techniques and safety at heights, mechanical maintenance and inspection services, engineering services and rigging. Photo: Westcon
“Westcon provided us with the most favourable offer. The quality of services, price, and the high level of service at Løfteteknikk led us to award them the contract,” says Procurement Manager in Dolphin Drilling, Cato Gundersen. Løfteteknikk has worked with Dolphin in the past and received, in July 2015, two new frame agreements, which include inspection of three of the company’s
rigs. In relation to the new agreements, Løfteteknikk’s services were tested on some of Dolphin’s rigs. “The feedback from the rigs was good. We have used Westcon on a continual basis. They know our rigs well and we know their work. It was therefore natural for us to use several services from Westcon, also outside these two agreements,” says Gundersen.
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We left our hearts in Norway and for every year that went by, it became more and more difficult to wait another year for the next trip.
Fishing is the great passion in her spare time. Birgit Feder’s fishing record was a common ling three centimetres taller than she is. Photo: Meister Fotografi
PORTRAIT Name: Birgit Feder Born: August 23, 1960 in Berlin Married to Frank, who is an industrial plumber at Westcon. Has two children: Steffen (36) and Sabrina (34) Lives at Vaka and has three grandchildren.
She manages the store in the pipe hall at Westcon with a firm hand and has even won a prize for her work. Her free time is spent fishing all year round and she holds all the family fishing records. Meet Birgit Feder, a German who has become a Norwegian for good.
Fishing, freedom and ‘Ordnung muss sein’ She is very German; EVERYTHING must be in order. She is an “ordnung muss sein” type of person and therefore the perfect stores manager. The only thing that can disconcert Birgit is chaos in the system. This description comes from colleagues at Westcon in Ølen, who also add that she is a sweet, approachable, happy, and hardworking lady. Birgit Feder laughs loudly at the description from her colleagues. The Store Manager, responsible for the main store, pipe store and the goods-received area at Westcon, recognises
herself. It may have something to do with her being German, but first and foremost there should be good order to ensure that things function as effectively as possible. “Some might think of me as quite strict and fussy. However, as we have gradually gained better control of the stores, people have started to see that it functions better with good order. Now, everyone knows where the equipment is and who has the equipment they are looking for. With many languages, and thousands of parts where each one can have four to five various
sizes, it can take time to find the right part. Everything is now marked with images and sizes so that people can just point at what they need,” says Birgit. The work she is doing is also recognised far beyond Westcon in Ølen. In 2013 she was awarded the LEAN prize for the best storage facility in Norway. Since then, a lot has happened on the storage front, with the building of brand new storage facilities while the Flerbrukshallen (multi-purpose hall) has taken form. Birgit has, of course, left her mark on this project, firstly during the planning and building phases, and now in full operation.
From flagman to crane operator However, the fact that Birgit and her husband, Frank, ended up at Westcon was actually a coincidence. They started travelling to Norway to fish in 1999. “We left our hearts in Norway and for every year that went by, it became more and more difficult to wait another year for the next trip. One of our acquaintances at Hitra lived in Ilsvåg and worked at Westcon. He helped us to find us a place to live and work. I moved to Norway in August 2001 and got my first job at Fatland. I am a qualified machinist for transport and crane facilities, and in April 2002, I got a job in the Transport Department at Westcon. Frank has good qualifications and quickly found a job there as well. Steffen has followed in our footsteps and is now an operator in the pipe hall. Our daughter
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has done the same; and is an industrial electrician in Germany,” says Birgit. Having learned Russian as a second language at school, it was quite a challenge to learn both Norwegian and English. There were enough challenges in the Transport Department too. She was asked to perform many different tasks and took everything in her stride; from being flagman on a rig, to driving cranes and boats. “The first time I drove a boat was alone on a night shift. I had just earned my boat license and I tried to say that I had never done this before, but that didn’t help. I arrived early, received an hour-long training session, and was then left to do my job. A short distance out from the rig, I slowed down and called out and warned them that this was my first trip. It went well,” says Birgit laughing.
Engaged in the local community In 2006, she left the Transport Department to work as a stores assistant in the pipe store. Six years later, she advanced to become Foreman. At the beginning of 2015, she became Store Leader, and six months later she got the job as Stores Manager. Order and systematic work comes naturally to Birgit, and we cannot avoid asking whether she is as strict at home in Vaka as she is at work. She and Frank bought the house in 2004, after having lived in Utbjoa for two years. She admits that she can handle a little mess, but adds that it is best to be tidy for guests.
The garden has plenty of space for flowers, trees and a large barbecue hut that does not spoil the view of Ølensfjord. Photo: Meister Fotografi
A system of colour coding has been introduced at the pallet warehouse. When a box is full of the correct contents, it is marked green. Yellow indicates half full and red means empty. Photo: Meister Fotografi
At the end of May, Birgit and Frank Feder celebrated 35 years of marriage. They work together, live together, fish together, and are still in love. Photo: Meister Fotografi
They have a lot of guests each year. Birgit and Frank enjoy spending time with family, friends, and neighbours. At Bjoavegen 585, with a great view over the fjord in Ølen, the door is almost always open. They have even built a bar on the second floor, which is often filled with happy people, great stories, and dart contests. They also fill their barbecue hut in the garden with people. The community hall in Vaka also benefits from Birgit and Frank’s passion for building great relationships with their neighbours.
Common passion Much of their spare time is spent on their common passion: fishing. It was fishing that brought them to Norway in the first place. They have two boats, fish all year round, and stay out for around 10 to 12 hours on the sea, when conditions allow. Frank is the captain while Birgit is the one with the boat license. Fishing brings out a trait in Birgit that is seldom seen at work: patience. “I hold all the fishing records in the family. While the others want to move on when the fish aren’t biting, I can wait for hours to catch the fish that I am after. My favourite fish is the common ling and the biggest I have caught measured 168 centimetres. I am 165 centimetres tall, so I had to stand on a bench in order to take pictures,” she says.
Settled in Norway for good In Norway, Birgit and Frank have found openness and freedom, in both nature and in everyday life, which is something they did not have for many years in Germany. A year after Birgit was born, the Berlin wall was built and Germany was divided. Birgit and her family, living in the suburb of Henningsdorf, had suddenly become East Germans. “Politics ruled everything, including kindergartens and schools. Taking part in the International Workers’ Day parade was manda-
tory, and I remember, with horror, that Steffen sang that he would drive a tank when he grew up. We were able to get hold of the majority of the groceries; other things we had to stand in line for for hours, and when it was finally your turn, it was usually sold out,” says Birgit. School and education was good and it was both a job and duty for everyone to work. However, if you wanted further education, your political affiliations had to be in order. Frank was about to become a craftsman in metallurgy and had passed the exam easily. However, he did not pass the written political test. The penalty for this was that he was failed on his practical exam - this happened so many times that, in the end, he gave up. Even fishing was strictly regulated, with licenses required for different kinds of fish. “Regardless of all of this, the worst thing about it was that we could not travel anywhere and felt trapped. You also had to look out for what you said and who you talked to. But I would not have been without this experience, because then I would never have met Frank,” says Birgit. The pair look at each other and smile, still in love after 35 years of marriage. They could not afford to go on honeymoon when they got married. They took their honeymoon when they celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with a roundtrip from Bergen to Kirkenes on Hurtigruta. A trip that, if possible, made them love Norway even more. “Have you thought about moving back to Germany when you retire?” “We have a daughter there who we visit relatively often, and it is difficult having one of the grandchildren so far away, but nature, freedom, space, and the way of things in Norway is not something that we are willing to give up. That is why we have become Norwegian citizens and have settled here for good,” says Birgit Feder firmly. JUNE 2016
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Entering land-based process industry Westcon has entered an agreement with BioMar for the delivery of electrical and automation services, for what will be one of the world’s largest and most efficient facilities for the production of fish feed. The expanded production facility for fish feed, which is located on Husøy, outside Haugesund, is set to become operative in the second quarter of 2017. For Westcon Power & Automation (WPA), the electrical and automation services agreement is the largest ever of its kind for a process facility. The delivery includes the installation of main control system for the factory, based on the Allen-Bradley platform, energy monitoring, and integration of third party equipment, as well as the existing factory.
Creating new opportunities ”This is a milestone for us for several reasons. Not only is it the largest assignment for a process facility that we have ever entered into, it is also our first larger agreement within the seafood sector. This opens up new opportunities and it will be very exciting to contribute to what will be a world-class facility,” says Frode Skaar, Manager for Sales and Business Development. The contract was won in competition with several recognised suppliers. Startup will be in May
BioMar is the closest neighbor to the WPA Department on Husøy. ”We already understand the client and their needs,” says Manager for Sales and Business Development, Frode Skaar. Photo: Meister Fotografi
2016, with completion planned for 2017, and the project will secure work for many WPA employees during the project period. BioMar is WPA’s closest neighbor on Husøy, and they are no stranger to the client.
Developing as they go ”We have participated in developing the production line that they have today and our people work regularly at BioMar. We therefore understand the client’s needs and are also a complete supplier of electrical and automation services. The process to develop the factory,
motor and control systems will run parallel to the engineering and assembly phase,” says Gunvald Mortvedt, Manager for Products and Systems. Earlier this year, WPA announced that they had entered a four-year operations agreement, for electrical and instrumentation at Statoil’s processing facility for gas at Kårstø. ”We see that the experience and skills Westcon Power & Automation has acquired, through many years in the maritime sector, has provided us with a good foundation for taking on assignments within all kinds of process industries,” says Skaar.
Half a tonne of chicken for dinner When the barracks are full and 900 to 1 000 people need food, it is impressive to see what Catering Partner can produce within a 24-hour period at Westcon. At their busiest, 2 500 meals are served during a 24-hour period. This includes
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approximately 200 loaves of bread, 50kg of cheese, 1200 hard-boiled eggs, 180kg of potatoes, 500kg of chicken, 100 litres of gravy, 300kg of fruit, 80 litres of ice cream, and 10kg of coffee, just for breakfast.
All together in 2015, the catering firm supplied 379 259 meals, plus lunch packs, and arranged 206 534 nights of accommodation. The housekeepers cleaned 4 866 square metres every day.
First DNV-certified rig for cold climates Leiv Eiriksson is the first rig in the world to be DNV approved in accordance with new regulations regarding winterization. The project is a joint venture between Westcon and GMC Maritime. When Leiv Eiriksson leaves the Westcon quayside this summer, it will set course for the rough conditions of the Barents Sea, on assignment for Lundin. Winterization is the main part of the assignment and Westcon Power & Automation (WPA) is responsible for the electrical part of the project. Project Manager, Bjørnar Tveit, was on board the rig for the first time on March 30; the process of planning, developing, and installing the components started at this time. “It is a short and intensive project period. Winterization is not a new phenomenon, but it is the first time a rig has been certified following DNV’s new requirements: ‘Winterization for Cold Climate Operation at level Basic’. This means that we need to document that the rig is safe to operate at minus 20 degrees from the top of the derrick, down to the pontoons,” says Tveit.
The best possible product for the client In order to achieve this, solutions need to be identified to ensure that water tanks do not freeze, walkways are kept free of ice, and ice does not fall from the cranes. The process involves the use of insulation, heating cables, and covering and protecting from frost and ice. The project is undertaken in cooperation with GMC Maritime, a company that is generally regarded as a competitor. “As they say in sport, we have complementary skills; we have also worked together on West Alpha in 2014. By using each other’s skill sets, we provide the client with the best possible product on this project,” says Geir Odland, Chief Executive Officer of WPA.
Cooperating to winterize the drilling rig, Leiv Eiriksson. From left, Site Manager for GMC, Hendrik W. Hoftun, Project Manager, Bjørnar Tveit, and CEO in Westcon Power & Automation, Geir Odland. Photo: Meister Fotografi
Natural for us to cooperate GMC Maritime is based in Stavanger and has a branch office in Gismarvik. “We must be able to cooperate and compete based on the needs of the project in question. We regard Westcon as a large, serious participant in this market. For this project, it was natural for us
to cooperate with Westcon, since we have developed a concept to address winterization that we believe is unique. If we complete this project well, it will provide a great starting point for future cooperation,” says GMC’s Operations Manager, Eirik Fjone.
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Westcon means more than jobs for the local community. Members of the community and passersby are engaged in, and allow themselves to be inspired by, the rigs at Westcon. The colossal structures in Ølensfjord are favourite subjects for many hobby photographers - day and night, year-round. Westcontact has chosen a selection of great Westcon-inspired photographs, and it is up to our readers to choose their favourite.
Photo: Svein Åge Berge
Photo: Gunvor Nervik
Photo: Sondre Nordtveit
Photo: Håkon Djurhus
Photo: Rosemaler Unni Marie Lien
Photo: Gunvor Nervik
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Rigs
at sunset
Photo: Unni Marie Lien
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It is fascinating to catch the light, colours and contrasts between the structures on the fjord and the natural environment. I’m hooked on shooting the platforms and it is childishly exciting. - Unni Marie Lien, Norwegian ‘rosemaling’ artist, hobby photographer, and neighbour to Westcon in Ølen.
Photo: Torodd Ottestad
Photo: Torodd Ottestad
Photo: Sondre Nordtveit
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Photo: Jan Calek
Photo: Lars Toadalen
Photo: Svein Egil Ă˜kland
Photo: Janne Matre
Photo: Svein Ă…ge Berge
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Return address: Westcon Yards AS, Jektevikvegen 45, N–5582 Ølensvåg, Norway
KARMØY
ØLENSVÅG
FLORØ
HELGELAND
HELGELAND
Westcon is a leading total supplier of products and services within the onshore, offshore, energy, and maritime industries. Westcon is family owned and has more than 35 years’ experience in the industry. In 2015, Westcon had a turnover of NOK 3.4 billion kroner and currently has approximately 770 permanent employees. YARDS Westcon has four yards with modern facilities for rig and ship assignments and subsea supply. All disciplines and project phases are covered, both onshore and offshore. Flexibility, efficient mobilisation, and the capacity to deliver are hallmarks of the company.
ÅLESUND POWER AND AUTOMATION Westcon supplies complete power and automation solutions, with highly-qualified personnel and resources within installation, commissioning and service. Tailor-made products and innovative solutions are developed in-house.
FLORØ
LIFTING TECHNIQUES Westcon is Norway’s leading total supplier of products and services within cranes and lifting. Areas of expertise include the sale and rental of equipment, rope access, engineering services, regulatory control, and courses and training.
GEO Westcon owns and operates five seismic ships equipped with traditional technology and the newly-developed bottom seismic.
westcon.no
STORD
ØLEN
HAUGESUND/ KARMØY STAVANGER
POLAND