Page 55: of Marine Technology Magazine (October 2015)

ORG Geophysical

SINTEF brought its own ROV when doing ocean re- search. Two other research institutes and the oil companies have also made use of the comfortable cabins for 34, the conference room, the three bridge work areas and separate

Inmarsat data network. Summer 2015 saw the Christina E perform a 90-day seismic survey for ORG Geophysical in the Barents Sea. It followed a similar one in 2014. Environ- mental survey work on the British and Norwegian sides of the North Sea in 2013 rounded out a season that also saw an ROV LoVe installation and separate seabed survey. Two more ROV environmental surveys were won in 2012. “The ship has been used for WROV, survey, installation of subsea equipment and seismic,” Saevik says, adding that “offshore support” and AUV operations are also suitable work (as is pipe and cable-lay inspection). In summer 2014, a 10-week AUV tender was won, but it was decided instead to follow the promise in a six-month seismic contract that came with options.

The Broker

The break from purse seining in order to do Statoil sub- sea work in September suggests Ervik & Saevik see the oil company as vital for their future. “The mackerel season can’t be interrupted,” says Saevik, so it was cut short, in- stead, for that 180-day contract and its options.

The cranes, space and crew are clearly adept at remov- ing and adding equipment to match the job and season. Yet, while ROV and AUV crews have a willing, able and com- pliant charter vessel in the Christina E (she’s won an envi- ronmental award for her NOx), Saevik clearly sees the need to grow. The Christina E., it turns out, has “one competitor in southern Norway.” “We dared to go offshore,” but then “The learning curve was through the roof,” Saevik says. It was ? tting acknowl- edgment of Statoil’s rigorous supply chain quali? cation program. Meanwhile, Ervik and ABB’s reworking of the vessel to make the most of her DP 1 and CAT engines; her bottom-scanning sonar and winches has created a multi- purpose vessel, or MPV, and capable OSV for cost-con- scious project managers.

“I want more vessels,” Saevik says. Yet, like the other

OSV owners all she can do is “tell the brokers she’ll be free (for offshore assignments) soon.”

All charters go through them.

Sanco looks to GoM

Pulling a single streamer, long-line style, might soon be the work of many, judging by the dire seismic market sized up by Sanco chief operating of? cer, Rudy Amundsen.

A market economist, now, and a former Ramform captain,

Amundsen remembers Sanco entered the seismic market on a ? shing vessel converted to refuel OSVs and carry their equipment and parts. Today, like the original Sanko Chaser, www.marinetechnologynews.com

Marine Technology Reporter 55

MTR #8 (50-64).indd 55 9/29/2015 3:24:00 PM