For the first time since the early 1990s a drilling rig was towed to the border town of Kirkenes in northern Norway. The rig Energy Exerter has been transported from the Pechora Sea, and will anchor up in Kirkenes for a month to do repair and maintenance inspection (RMI).
For the local Henriksen Shipping Service (HSS), it has been a major goal for several years to do rig service operations for the oil and gas industry. However, the operation is far too large for HSS alone. In order to sucessfully complete the operation, all companies in Kirkenes with maritime competence have been involved.
– A jackup operation like this will bring several million Norwegian kroner to the local maritime companies, says general manager Arve Henriksen in HSS.
What’s even more important is to show the effectiveness and quality of Kirkenes for rig maintenance. Henriksen can not tell for sure if his company will sign new contracts for RMI-operations, but believe there is a good chance.
– The activity level in the Barents Sea will only increase and there are clear indications that more rigs evaluate Kirkenes for future RMI-operations. Therefore it is vital to show our capabilities in this operation, says Henriksen.
Secretary General Rune Rafaelsen at the Norwegian Barents Secretariat says that the Energy Exerter rig contract highlights the important role of Kirkenes in the years to come for petroleum projects in the Barents Sea.
– Kirkenes has a natural advantage with an ice free harbour and the proximity to Russia. For most international companies it will be natural to use Kirkenes for base activities and maintenance operations. Everyone who is involved in these current operations must aspire to facilitate the best possible conditions for the rig owners. Kirkenes harbour must have the most sophisticated logistics in every operation connected with such RMI, says Rafaelsen.
