DEEPOCEAN GROUP NEWSLETTER 2017 NUMBER 1
INTO THE DEEP 2
CONTENTS
03 Intro 04 Ethics & Compliance 06 HSE 08 The Fleet 10 Technology 16 Operations 18 Events 19 People
EDITOR Ellen Kristin Bauer-Nilsen
COMMITTEE Bart Heijermans Anna Masztalerek Jamie A Wilson Claire Binns Mark Lawrence Simon Hounsome David Lothian Sveinung Soma Tom Howard Henk van den IJssel Anita Bonney Rebecca Newsam DESIGN Garp Design PUBLISHED 11.05.17
INTRO
DEAR COLLEAGUES, Here in Western Europe we are finally enjoying the first days of good old spring after a cold start. Spring is one of my favourite times of the year with flowers blooming and people having a good time on terraces and in boats on the canals in Amsterdam. In the oil industry, we are also in the spring season but unfortunately, it is still the cold type of spring. The Brent oil price is stuck in a range between $45 and $55 per barrel. However, a number of analysts is spotting the first “green shoots”. Let us hope that this is not a product of ‘wishful thinking’. The offshore oil industry is not the only segment that has focussed on cost reductions, onshore oil production in the Middle East, Russia and the USA has also enjoyed the benefits from an oversupplied oil field services market. In addition, automation in shale oil fields in the USA is further driving cost down. As I mentioned more than a year ago, in the absence of geopolitical conflicts, oil will continue to trade in the $45-$55 range for several years. In order to have a future in our industry we need to be prepared to continue to reduce our cost, improve project execution, improve asset reliability and listen to our clients in order to find solutions for their problems and act with a sense of urgency and commercial savviness. The best alignment with our customers is to reduce their capital and operating expenditures. The Superior ROV for pipeline inspection has been a great example of this alignment. We will have to look at ways to reduce the cost of subsea platform inspections through the use of platform based ROVs instead of our standard offering of vessel based ROVs, etc. In the next couple of years, we will continue to rebalance our fleet of vessels, more “pay per use” contracts instead of long-term contracts and I hope that we will be able to acquire an asset from a ship-owner in distress. The cost of electricity generated by offshore wind turbines will continue to decrease driven by technology advancements, maturity of industry, low interest rates, new manufacturers and hungry offshore contractors. The latest offshore wind licences issued in Denmark did not require any subsidies from tax payers. The pace of the energy transformation for transportation is amazing. It is very likely that in 10 years people in Western Europe and other countries will be commuting to and from work in electric cars that we do not own ourselves anymore and powered by electricity generated by solar, wind, nuclear and hydro-electric power plants. This will require a larger and more robust network of onshore and offshore power cables. The demand for the installation and burial of offshore cables looks robust but more competition is entering the market and productivity is increasing. The ‘cost reduction’ and ‘project execution improvement’ themes are also applicable in the offshore cable industry. Without further cost reduction and productivity improvements, we will be subsidizing electricity generated by offshore wind turbines. That is not a winning strategy. The oil and gas downturn started almost three years ago and I am proud that DeepOcean is still in a position to offer safe and reliable services to its customers. In the last six months, we have strengthened our balance sheet and attracted a lead investor. I am confident that we will prevail in challenging markets. As always, I am appreciative of all your hard work and the difference you make on a daily basis. Stay safe.
Yours truly
Bart Heijermans Chief Executive Officer
INTO THE DEEP 3
INTO THE DEEP 4
ETHICS & COMPLIANCE
MODERN DAY SLAVERY Hold on a minute! There must be a mistake – surely this title does not belong here! What has modern day slavery got to do with DeepOcean? I mean, yeah, we do occasionally work long hours to get the tender out or the contract completed, but slavery? No, not in our company!
Well, of course not. However, what we do at our company is not always so routine. We engage with other parties in the pursuance of our business but how are we so sure that those subcontractors, agents, and suppliers can say the same? OUR RESPONSIBILITY Ensuring the protection of human rights within our organization and business is part of our corporate social responsibility. We have already addressed a number of important ethical issues through our Code of Conduct. Our HR procedures prohibit employment practices that are in violation of human rights such as child labor. It is now time to focus on other forms of exploitation, such as modern day slavery and trafficking. WHAT IS MODERN SLAVERY? Modern slavery is a form of organized crime in which victims are treated as commodities and exploited for criminal gain. Forms of modern slavery can include servitude, and forced labor. The victims of modern-day slavery can be found all over the globe. They are often unwilling or unable to come forward to
law enforcement officials or public protection agencies, which means it has become increasingly important for commercial organizations such as ours to take a proactive role in order to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place within our businesses or any related supply chains. OUR POLICY In order to ensure compliance, on the 2nd of March 2017, our Board of Directors adopted an Anti-Slavery and Anti-Human Trafficking Policy. The full text of this policy will soon be available from iQS and on the Ethics & Compliance section of our Intranet. Make sure to read it, as it applies to each and every person involved with DeepOcean. The policy concerns all areas of DeepOcean’s business and governs actions taken by all of DeepOcean’s directors, officers, and employees. The policy also extends to DeepOcean’s suppliers, agents, and all persons associated with DeepOcean. The aim of the policy is to put in place systems and processes that guard human rights and freedoms against abuses of any kind, including slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labor, child labor, and human trafficking.
ETHICS & COMPLIANCE
INTO THE DEEP 5
OUR ACTIONS The new policy prohibits DeepOcean from engaging, authorizing or tolerating the engagement of any person on behalf of our company under the conditions of modern slavery, child labor or domestic forced labor; and from involvement with human trafficking in connection with our services. In order to ensure compliance with these principles, we will take a closer look at our own organization and our supply chain. At this time DeepOcean is already verifying our agents and third
Modern slavery is a term used to describe the following exploitation: Slavery – where one person treats another as though he or she owns that person Servitude – where a person is coerced to provide services and cannot change his/ her condition Forced labor – where a person is forced to work or provide a service under the menace of a penalty Human trafficking occurs when a person arranges or facilitates the travel of another person with the knowledge or intention of that person being exploited. Exploitation can include slavery, servitude, forced labor, removal of organs, and the prostitution of others, along with a host of other grave violations of human rights. Domestic forced labor is a form of exploitation that happens around the world in private homes. Pay is often very low and may be frequently withheld or given only in food and accommodation. In some cases, employers have been known to withhold passports, limit contact with family or even forbid domestic workers from leaving a private home.
party representatives for compliance with anti-bribery laws. This verification procedure will be expanded to include confirmation of adherence to human rights laws within our supply chain.
THICS ORNER
The policy uses the following definitions and concepts:
OUR AIM As a responsible company, we do not wish to engage with third parties who do not respect and protect human rights. We will therefore verify any new third party seeking to do business with DeepOcean, as well as gradually reviewing our existing subcontractors, agents, and suppliers.
YOUR ROLE As in all our dealings, we will rely on each DeepOcean employee to be vigilant and alert us to any suspected wrongdoings that involves our organization or supply chain. You can use any of the following channels to raise your concerns: speak to your manager, HR department, Compliance Team, CEO or Chairman of the Board of Directors, or report via an anonymous hotline (the phone number and link to the online report form can be found on our Intranet). Any concerns or issues identified or reported in relation to the suspected violation of our policy shall be thoroughly investigated. You can be assured that the company does not tolerate retaliation against any employee who raises a question or concern in good faith. Each member of DeepOcean staff, whether permanent or temporary, is the key to our continued success. When you comply with our E&C policies, you help our organization act with honesty and integrity in all our business dealings, and make our organization a place where we can all be proud to work.
Authors: Compliance Team by Anna Masztalerek
INTO THE DEEP 6
HSE
REFUGEE CRISIS DEEP VISION
Nautilus member Captain Jamie Wilson and the crew of his ship have been praised for their professionalism and bravery in helping to rescue more than 900 refugees off the coast of Libya in the space of just five days. In this special report, he describes how his vessel responded to the challenge and offers some advice arising from his experiences.
I have been at sea since 1998, joining James Fisher Tankships as a deck officer cadet and underwent training at Fleetwood Nautical Campus between 1998 and 2001. I left James Fisher in 2002 after serving on various coastal tankers and briefly worked on the Northern Lighthouse Board vessel, Pole Star, before entering the offshore industry where I began serving on-board supply vessels. I then moved to subsea inspection vessels carrying out trenching, diving, and ROV inspection work. I gained my Master’s Certificate in March 2012 and was promoted to captain on-board the Deep Vision in January 2013, at the age of 31. On the 28th, 29th, and 31st of January and 1st of February 2017, the Deep Vision participated in the rescue of 907 migrants. There was a total of nine search and rescue events during this time, with six events on February 1st alone. Our vessel was not engaged in humanitarian work and was undertaking a commercial charter at the time of the events. During the weekend of 28th to 29th of January, the Deep Vision participated in the rescue of 257 migrants from two migrant boats in distress off the coast of Libya. On 28th of January – designated SAR 1 - our vessel received a distress message relayed from MRCC Rome that instructed us to proceed with all available speed to assist. The Deep Vision arrived to find a migrant boat with 132 people onboard (84 men, 23 women, and 25 children, including two pregnant women). We launched our rescue boat and distributed lifejackets to those on the migrant raft. The French naval vessel, Commandant Bouan, arrived on location and also launched a rescue craft. The migrants were then safely transferred to the Bouan using the rescue crafts of both the Deep Vision and the Bouan, and from where the naval vessel took the migrants to Italy. For SAR 2 on the next day, 29th of January, a migrant boat was spotted on radar heading towards the Deep Vision. The Master informed MRCC Rome and was instructed to assist. MRCC Rome informed the Deep Vision that the Aquarius, a humanitarian vessel belonging to SOS Mediterranée, was working in the area and would be at the location in three hours. The Deep Vision launched its rescue boat which distributed water, food,
and lifejackets to the 125 migrants onboard the raft. We then provided a lee for the migrant boat and transferred migrants, in tandem with the Aquarius rescue boat, to the SOS Mediterranée vessel where they were to be carried to Italy. In the early hours of 31st of January - SAR 3 - a migrant raft was spotted close to the Deep Vision. MRCC was informed and our vessel was instructed to assist. The Deep Vision provided a lee for the migrant craft and made contact to ensure nobody was injured or sick. An Italian Coastguard vessel arrived on-scene and the migrants were picked up and taken onboard. SAR 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 all took place on February 1st when six migrant crafts were sighted in the area around the Deep vision. An Italian Coastguard vessel and the Deep Vision intercepted the migrant crafts, and for each vessel the Deep Vision provided a lee and assistance until the Coastguard vessel was on location. A total of 650 migrants were transferred to the Coastguard vessel between 0700hrs and 1200hrs on February 1st alone. As you can see, there were many SAR events, which was unprecedented for DeepOcean, myself, and for the crew of the Deep Vision. We were briefed and prepared for our time in the Mediterranean and had migrant procedures in place, but the sheer scale of events and number of migrants were experiences that took us by surprise. Masters always have to balance commercial charter interests against day-to-day ship operations but we are required to render assistance to any person found at sea who is in danger of being lost and to proceed with all possible speed to the rescue of persons in distress. If informed of the need to provide assistance we must do so in so far as such action may reasonably be expected of us. When working in high-risk areas, it is essential that you prepare well and brief/drill the crew such that everyone knows their roles and responsibilities. If a time comes that an emergency response is needed, then this can be acted upon swiftly and professionally. As mariners, regular drills and training are things that we are all accustomed to. The emotional impact is another aspect that had to be dealt with. There was a situation during one of the rescues which had a large emotional impact on some of the crew, including myself. The onboard
HSE
medics were extremely helpful to the crew after the event and DeepOcean also provided the necessary emergency response back-up/duty of care, which included a full debrief and offer of advice and counseling to those who required it. As master, the hard part is lifting the spirits of the crew after such events and returning to our normal and familiar work routines. The migrant situation in the Mediterranean is sad and heart-wrenching. In some cases, the migrant rafts had run out of fuel, drifting aimlessly and hoping to be found. Others had no engines at all and had been towed out beyond 12nm and left to drift, again in the hope of being found.
MV Deep Vision is a UK-flagged multipurpose ROV support vessel that was engaged in inspection work in Mediterranean from Libya to Italy. The vessel is owned and operated by DeepOcean AS, of Haugesund, Norway.
I am proud of the efforts of the Deep Vision crew in what were very difficult and emotional circumstances. All the crew showed great professionalism and good seamanship, which resulted in the safe rescue of 907 people.
Author: Jamie A Wilson
INTO THE DEEP 7
INTO THE DEEP 8
THE FLEET
DINA STAR
CELEBRATING A YEAR OF SAFE OPERATIONS
At Tullow Ghana Ltd (TGL) , safety is one of our main priorities and our number one pillar is to “Operate Safely”. Following up on our commitment to safety, we are proud to announce that the DP2 Remote Operated Vessel (ROV) and construction vessel, the Dina Star, achieved 365 days without any Lost Time Injuries (LTI) on Friday 10th of March, 2017. The Dina Star, which is owned by Mykelbushaust (MHB) and managed by DeepOcean Ghana Ltd, commenced offshore activities approximately one year ago. The vessel was contracted to provide inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) surveys and subsea construction in the Jubilee and TEN Fields. In recognition of the team’s achievement,
Tullow and DeepOcean organized a small ceremony where crew members were presented with a plaque. Philip Spearman (Senior MPCV Engineer Lead) and Brian Nicoll TGL Subsea/ Logistics EHS Manager presented the plaque to Robert Holt, DeepOcean’s Offshore Manager. Philip congratulated the crew for their efforts towards strengthening our culture of safety. He said, “You have done an impressive job in embracing our safety culture and should be congratulated for your efforts in keeping yourselves and fellow crew members safe over an entire year. This is by no means a small feat; it is an achievement well worthy of praise”. Robert Holt who received the award on behalf of the team emphasized the importance of
AWARD 2016
DINA STAR Recognition of excellent performance in the following categories: Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate Successful close out of Safety Observation Cards High Potential Events Frequency Environmental Releases Operational Uptime Client Feedback
Bart Heijermans Chief Executive Officer
maintaining the highest possible safety standards offshore. He encouraged crew members to remain vigilant, implement assurance plans, and actively participate in safety regimes.
THE FLEET
VESSEL OF THE YEAR
This achievement comes shortly after the vessel won DeepOcean Group’s “Vessel of the Year” award.
Congratulations to the Dina Star crew for this remarkable accomplishment! Keep up the safe work for many more LTI-free years to come.
Author: Claire Binns
INTO THE DEEP 9
INTO THE DEEP 10
TECHNOLOGY
ADUS
3D LASER SURVEY Tullow Oil, operating offshore Ghana on the west coast of Africa, has a continuous requirement for more effectively monitoring their seabed infrastructure, which is located in challenging deepwater environments. To this end, ADUS, a newly created department within DeepOcean and working with DeepOcean Ghana Ltd. has recently completed an innovative deepwater subsea 3D laser survey for Tullow Oil. This is the first extensive commercial laser survey of its kind conducted in the industry and it heralds a new era of high-resolution, cost effective subsea data acquisition. ADUS was originally a ‘spin out’ company from the Universities of St Andrews and Dundee in Scotland, specializing in highresolution surveys of shipwrecks that were subject to large-scale wreck removal and management projects. Notable ADUS wreck surveys included the Deep Water Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, the Costa Concordia in Italy, the Rena in New Zealand, and the Sewol in South Korea. ADUS was acquired by DeepOcean in 2013. So what are the end results of a laser survey? Laser surveys produce high-resolution 3D metrical datasets which can be ‘flown around’ on a computer screen or even ‘walked through’ by the user at the right scale in Virtual Reality (VR). This allows for an appreciation of the asset and its context in a way not previously possible. The datasets then lets the user derive accurate measurements in context for metrology purposes and to understand more precisely the changes over time of any
particular asset, which is an important part of the inspection process. For the Tullow work, the ADUS survey operations covered 12 drill center locations and a total of 27 metrologies in water depths between 800 and 1800 meters, setting new bench marks for high-resolution contextual 3D surveys whilst proving to be an alternative and rapid ‘contactless’ solution to conventional (LBL) metrology surveys. Tolerances requested were +/- 10 cms in position, +/- 10 cms in height, and +/- 0.5 degrees in orientation (heading, inclination). The achieved results were well within these tolerances. In fact, the measurements achieved over a 25-meter distance using the 3D point cloud were within 1 cm of the distances measured using the traditional LBL acoustic system. A key aspect of this survey was the fact that it was conducted dynamically - i.e. from moving ROVs, rather than stationary ones. The dynamic approach, whilst very much more complicated to achieve, offers many advantages over a static laser deployment. The survey is rapid and able to cover much larger areas, and allows for optimal placement of the laser to acquire the best possible data on complicated structures. The dynamic laser survey solution, from a moving ROV is comprised of 2G Robotics deep rated ULS 500 Pro Lasers and Sonardyne’s SPRINT INS system. The performance of these systems exceeded expectations with accuracies approaching 1cm in dynamic operation. Two deep rated ULS500 systems and the Sonardyne system have now been purchased by DeepOcean.
The accurate 3D ‘point clouds’ resulting from the survey, coupled with innovative modeling techniques developed in house, are providing DeepOcean engineers with valuable quantitative and contextual information to better inform IMR tasks and undertake metrology tasks, thereby increasing efficiency for the client. The success of these recent survey operations has led to a further contract under which the company will conduct similar surveys on Tullow’s assets off Ghana for the next two and a half years. There are, of course, many other potential subsea applications for the use of the laser which will be of value to DeepOcean’s existing clients. Anyone reading this who considers that use of the laser would add value to any particular project, or might wish to include the techno-logy in future tenders, should get in touch with either Mark or Stuart Leather. Future development of the laser system includes: • • • • •
Utilization of dense point cloud laser data for reverse engineering tasks Providing a basis for superior visual asset management systems Use of virtual reality for enhanced data processing and enhanced inspection Use of virtual reality for operational simulations Use of HD still photographs derived from the laser system camera for co-registration with point cloud data
TECHNOLOGY
INTO THE DEEP 11
DeepOcean is a forward-looking innovative company and it recognizes that even in very challenging market conditions, the need for an innovative approach to offshore operations not only remains constant but actually increases. This applies to many operations, including multiple ‘routine’ survey and inspection related tasks.
Author: Mark Lawrence
INTO THE DEEP 12
TECHNOLOGY
LEGEND OF THE
PEGASUS THE WESTERN LINK STORY The Western Link project consisted of two DC cables, each approximately 365 km in length, that were to be laid parallel between Ardneil in Scotland and the Wirral in England. These two cables were laid in three separate sections which resulted in six individual cable-laying assignments. The purpose of this project was to supply the National Grid in England with the power that was being produced by onshore wind farms in Scotland. DeepOcean was contracted by Prysmian to bury the cables utilizing DeepOcean’s PCP2 Plough asset along with survey and PLGR. The project commenced in September of 2014 by way of sea trials of the PCP2 Plough which had recently been refurbished and was followed by two years of pre-engineering and preparation for the live assignments. The operational phase of the project started in June of 2015 and continued until final completion in November 2016. At the time of signature, it was the largest single contract to be
signed by DeepOcean UK and is the largest project that the PCP2 Plough has operated on in terms of trenching length - a total of just over 330 kms buried in the seventeen months spent on the project. By project completion, a total of over 325 000 man hours had accrued with zero LTIs and 399 SOCs all closed out. This is quite an achievement on a project which had some challenging conditions that had to be overcome throughout its duration. In addition, out of service cable-clearance operations were conducted at seven discreet locations, with four cables identified and successfully recovered using de-trenching grapnel to clear the cable route prior to ploughing operations. In total, 920 m of cable was retrieved, consisting of old power and telegraph cables which were installed around 100 years ago. Sections of the recovered cable were donated to Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, Valentia Heritage Centre and
CLIENTS: PRYSMIAN, SCOTTISH POWER and NATIONAL GRID VESSELS: GO PEGASUS Scope of Work: Pre-lay Grapnel Run (PLGR) Survey Support Ploughing (PCP2) GIULIO VERNE Scope of Work: Cable Lay MAERSK CONNECTOR Scope of Work: PLGR Cable Loadout & Transportation
TECHNOLOGY
Cable Station, and the National Museum of Ireland, where they are now on display. Furthermore, the main ploughing assignment was the Western Link which became the first project to utilize the Maersk Connector, a recently commissioned new-build. This vessel was used to assist the client by transporting a 120-km length of cable from Prysmian’s cable manufacturing plant in Naples, Italy, and then transpool it onto the Giulio Verne in Hunterston, Scotland. Despite this being the first operation for the new vessel and its carousel spread where some teething issues could be expected, the cable was loaded and transpooled successfully without incidents. Notwithstanding these challenges, the project was completed successfully and to the client’s satisfaction, resulting in a total projected project value of £60 million.
Author: David Lothian
INTO THE DEEP 13
INTO THE DEEP 14
TECHNOLOGY
BLIGH BANK PROJECT In July 2015 DeepOcean was awarded a contract for the installation and burial of the inter array cables on the Bligh Bank II Offshore Wind Farm in the Belgian sector of the North Sea by Nobelwind NV, a Belgian offshore wind farm developer and operator. The Bligh Bank Wind Farm is located 45 km off the coast of Belgium and comprises 50 wind turbine generators (WTG) spread over an area of 20 km. The turbines are connected together in arrays, or strings, of 10 turbines and linked back to an Offshore High Voltage Substation (OHVS). The wind farm is designed to produce 165MW of renewable power which is fed into the Belgian National Grid through an export cable that comes ashore at Zeebrugge. The development is managed, operated, and maintained from the client’s dedicated facility located in Oostende.
and at its peak involved 9 vessels and over 300 DeepOcean and subcontractor personnel working offshore. The work commenced in September 2016 with the mobilization of a cable lay spread onto the Volantis to perform the deburial, recovery, re-lay, and pull-in of the export cable to the offshore substation. The Maersk Recorder collected the array cables from Draka Cables in Oslo Fjord during October and then transited to the site to start the cable-laying work. The Deep Helder was mobilized to perform a pre-lay survey, install cable crossings, prepare the first foundations for cable pull, and then carry out cable touch-down monitoring as support to the Maersk Recorder. WTGs were connected together using a subsea cable that comprises both copper connectors and fiber-optic control cable elements. The size of the cable increased in diameter as more turbines were added to the string which meant that cables at the end of the strings had a smaller diameter than those closer to the substation. Cables were also provided in pre-cut lengths by the client in order to suit specific locations within the site and could therefore only be installed when the cable load-out sequence was in reverse.
Location of Bligh Bank Wind Farm
Bligh Bank Wind Turbine Generator
DeepOcean’s involvement in the construction of the Bligh Bank wind farm included:
The result of this was that different sized cables needed to be routed into the separate compartments in the two cable tanks on-board the Recorder and loaded in a particular order. This fixed the offshore execution sequence and removed the possibility of being able to pick and choose which cable to lay.
Design and engineering activities Debris clearance by pre-lay grapnel runs (PLGR) Installation and burial of 50 array cables including three cable crossings. Design and supply of 95 cable protection systems (CPS)
Cables were pulled into each WTG through a small subsea aperture in the piled foundation that was located relatively close to the seabed. Catenaries were supported using a cable protection system (CPS) that was pulled into the cable aperture and secured by a toothed pull-in head. The CPS were assembled and installed on the ends of every cable on-board the Recorder as part of the cable-laying process. Pull-in teams
Installation and trenching of a coupling cable between the Nobelwind and Belwind 1 OHVS Deburial, pull-in, and trenching of the previously installed export cable Cable termination and testing
were supplied by Hughes Subsurface Engineering (now part of James Fisher) and were primarily accommodated on-board the Recorder together with the lay team and were shuttled between the vessel and the WTG foundations using a flotilla of Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs).
Our project team was based in Darlington and during the first six months of the project we developed the processes and designed the equipment required for cable laying and for pulling the cables into WTG foundations. Our work culminated in a series of onshore trials in Vietnam and Oostende in order to test and refine our methods, and also on-board the Deep Helder for a series of offshore trials into new methods and equipment for monitoring the cable touchdown position during the lay. Our team was well aware that the site location would create high currents and the best available technology was needed in order to minimize possible current downtime during the work.
As the weather worsened in the later stages of the year, we mobilized the Rem Installer, a Construction Support Vessel that was equipped with a motion-compensated walk-to-work system that could accommodate the pull-in teams and improve the workability of our offshore construction fleet. We were pleased to welcome our colleagues from the Haugesund office as offshore management for the Rem Installer where they were introduced very quickly into the art of offshore wind-farm construction.
• • • • • • •
The offshore execution of the project was both complicated and intense
After installation, the cables were buried into the seabed using the UT1 Jet Trencher deployed from the Volantis. The high current in the vicinity of the Bligh Bank location had created a disturbed
TECHNOLOGY
Tower teams accessing a WTG foundation from Rem Installer using the Walk to Work system.
Bligh Bank Inter Array Cables
Cable lay from Maersk Recorder with Deep Helder, Volantis and Rem Installer in support
UT1 Trencher being deployed on site from Volantis
Bligh Bank Cable Protection System
seabed with large sand waves and other seabed features that challenged the ability of both crew and UT1 to achieve adequate cable-burial depths. DeepOcean was also responsible for the termination and testing of the cables into the WTG switch gear and this work was completed using a specialist subcontractor and managed by a small DeepOcean team based in Oostende. Cable testing was carried out by string from the offshore substation which meant that all 60 cable terminations and up to 14 km of cable was tested at the same time. This method of testing was an offshore wind industry first and was successfully completed without any failures. It was due to the perseverance and determination of the onshore and offshore
Sunrise at Bligh Bank
Merry Christmas spent onboard Maersk Recorder
teams that cable laying and burial work was completed in the first quarter of 2017. The Bligh Bank project was certainly challenging for all of us who were involved in the onshore preparation and offshore execution. DeepOcean has learnt many lessons that can be applied to all of our future array cable installation projects.
Author: Simon Hounsome
INTO THE DEEP 15
INTO THE DEEP 16
OPERATIONS
OUR CURRENT OPERATIONS
A: EDDA FAUNA C: STATOIL P: SURVEY & LCV
A: DEEP HELDER C: DONG ENERGY P: RACE BANK ARRAY
A: DEEP VISION C: TAQ A P: PLATFORM INSPECTION
A: EDDA FLORA C: STATOIL P: SURVEY & LCV
A: NORMAND OCEAN C: STATOIL P: IMR
A: HAVILA PHOENIX C: N/A P: N/A
A: MAERSK CONNECTOR C: DONG ENERGY P: WALNEY EXTENSION – EXPORT CABLES
A: ARBOL GRANDE C: DIAVAZ P: IMR
A: VOLANTIS C: DONG ENERGY P: RACE BANK ARRAY
A: DEEP HELDER C: DONG ENERGY P: RACE BANK ARRAY
A: ATLANTIC CHALLENGER (IDLE ALONGSIDE) C: N/A P: N/A
A: REM FORZA C: TECHNIP CONGO P: CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT A: DINA STAR C: TULLOW, GHANA P: IMR
OPERATIONS DeepOcean operations continue around the world, with projects since the last newsDeepOcean operations continue around the world, with projects since the last letter performed in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, the Greater North Sea, Africa and the Far newsletter performed in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Ghana, Greater North Sea and East. Operations included IMR, Survey, Subsea Installation, Construction and Trenching the Middle East. Operations included IMR, Survey, Subsea Installation, Construction for a range of customers, including a number of long-term contracts. and Trenching for a range of customers.
KEY A = ASSET C = CLIENT P = PROJECT
INTO THE DEEP 17
INTO THE DEEP 18
EVENTS
EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES 2017
DeepOcean will be present at the following exhibitions and conferences in 2017: 2017 DECOM OFFSHORE Aberdeen, 24 May 2017
UTC 2017 Bergen, 21 - 22 June 2017
SPE Offshore Europe 2017 Aberdeen, 5 - 8 September
PEOPLE
INTO THE DEEP 19
OFFICE AMSTERDAM The headquarters of DeepOcean is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. That is where DeepOcean Group Holding BV, the ultimate parent of all DeepOcean companies, is registered. Amsterdam is a central location and therefore makes an attractive meeting place for DeepOcean management, shareholders and customers.
The employees based in Amsterdam hail from an extensive mix of different positions and backgrounds. Some key group positions are based here and include people such as Bart (CEO), Dennis (CFO), Rob (Group Tax), and Anna (Group Compliance) who is assisted by Ciel. Also Hugo, Michael and Ishan (all Group Finance) are running their activities from Amsterdam. Finally we have commercial positions for International business that include Mischa and Henk, and Magiel for UK tenders. Some DO employees make regular visits to Amsterdam, but many of us have not been to this bustling city so let’s quickly describe what you miss by not coming to Amsterdam. Firstly you would miss is the challenge of getting there. Schiphol Airport Amsterdam is very convenient to fly to and from where taking the train to Amsterdam Central Station is easy. Walking or using a tram will bring you to the office, but with a real risk of colliding with 100 000 locals on bikes and scooters or another 100 000 tourists distracted by their smartphones and selfie sticks. A taxi from Schiphol is also possible, but bears with it the risk of inexperienced taxi drivers, excessive charges, and blocked roads everywhere. However, once you arrive everything fine. The next challenge is to find a chair, maybe a desk, and a place to connect your
laptop. Luckily, many of the Amsterdam employees travel a lot which allows international colleagues some desk space. Visitors from outside DeepOcean such as clients and other contractors always appreciate the office location which is very historic and stylish, and are willing to put up with the inconveniences involved in getting there. When the weather is nice, or at least dry, you should not miss the chance to walk around the canals even if you have to run the gauntlet of the bicycles and tourists mentioned above. We have terraces, lunchrooms, Starbucks, and much more all within
walking distance, which is the main reason why the Amsterdam office has no canteen. All we need is a coffee machine. In the coming years we expect an expansion of the team in Amsterdam, primarily as a result of the increasing activity levels for DeepOcean on African projects. We will definitely try to accommodate as many people as possible at the office just to avoid moving somewhere that does not have the character of the city of Amsterdam. Let’s hope the above description will give you a good reason to come and visit us soon!
Author: Henk van den IJssel
INTO THE DEEP 20
PEOPLE
OFFICE GHANA:
THE DRIVER Benjamin Agbenyo Akoe is the main chauffeur at the Accra office of DeepOcean Ghana Limited (DOGL). He has been working with DeepOcean since June 2016 and has over 25 years’ experience. Benjamin is hardworking, committed, and dependable; traits which make him a valuable asset at DOGL. Author: Anita Bonney A typical working day for Benjamin involves: • •
•
Picking up the Operations Manager/Senior HSE Engineer for work. Running errands for the company, taking employees to client’s offices for meetings, and dropping off and picking up employees/ clients from the airport. Preforming daily maintenance activities on the car which includes checking the engine oil level, brake fluid level, and automatic transmission fluid level in order to make sure the vehicle is in good condition.
What excites Benjamin about being a part of DOGL is the high level of togetherness and mutual respect amongst personnel in the company. As a result of this, he feels at home whenever he is at work and is able to carry out his duties contentedly. The easy access to healthcare which DOGL provides for its employees is also a reason he is happy to be with the company. The highlight of Benjamin’s working experience was when he had the opportunity to spend the night on-board one of DeepOcean’s vessels –
the Rem Forza. He was afforded the opportunity of experiencing the engineering aspects of DOGL first-hand and it was an experience he gladly remembers. Benjamin has five children, all of whom live with him in Accra. He has been married for 25 years to his lovely wife, Janet Akoe Atiyie, who is a professional caterer. They own a shop where Benjamin helps out whenever he can. His hobbies include travelling, watching football, and listening to music. Places he loves to visit include the Kakum National Park in the central Region of Ghana and also the beaches. He enjoys good food and some of his favorite dishes are local delicacies – Banku with Okro soup and Fufu with grass-cutter soup.
PEOPLE
OFFICE DARLINGTON:
BOXER
In October 2016 I found out that two of my uncles, who I admired and looked up to, had been diagnosed with cancer. Both men had been ever-present in my life since my Grandad passed away when I was 8 years-old. As you can imagine the news came as a big shock to all the family, but it didn’t end there as in November Uncle Barry passed away and then in December, Uncle Tommy passed away. Both had very short battles with cancer but that didn’t change the pain that was felt. This was the final push that I needed. It was then I decided to look for a way to raise some money for Cancer Research. I chose to go down the route of Ultra White Collar Boxing (UWCB) as I’m not a great lover of long runs, which is why a marathon didn’t appeal to me. Not only that, but it gave me a way of increasing my own fitness in the form of a challenge that would take me out of my comfort zone. It was not just a personal reason that took me down this route but also the vast amount of money that UWCB has raised for Cancer Research UK. I believe the total to date is over £6 million. The UWCB program involves an eight-week training program at a local boxing gym. We train twice a week for approximately ninety minutes each night. At the end of the eight weeks there is a professionally run show for family and friends in which the fundraising boxers are matched on ability, age, and weight during three rounds lasting two minutes each. March 18th 2017 was fight night. I was able to box in front of about one thousand people at the event over the course of the three two-minute minute rounds. The experience was like nothing I have ever had before. The fight was decent by all measures; everyone seemed to enjoy the show. The fight itself seemed to pass very quickly and was over before I knew it. But what I can say is that it has to be the most exhausting time I have ever had. Unfortunately, I lost the fight on a very close points decision which felt harsh but I can’t be too disheartened as I completed my goal of making it to the final bell and raising a decent amount of money for a great cause.
Author: Rebecca Newsam
INTO THE DEEP 21
www.DeepOceangroup.com