Think offshore, thin DOF... DOF

THINK OFFSHORE, THINK DOF…

The logistical operations needed for the operation of offshore drilling, exploration, construction and subsea services have to be of the greatest scale and precision. Julia Snow reports on the latest developments at the offshore and subsea logistics specialist from Norway.

DOF ASA is an international group of companies which owns and operates a modern fleet of offshore and subsea vessels, as well as offering highly specialised engineering capacity. The DOF Group delivers safe, successful offshore and subsea projects across a wide range of services: supply, anchor handling, survey, diving, construction, installation and IRM (inspection, repair and maintenance) disciplines.

Founded in 1981, the group has today established itself as a leading offshore player with a focus on high-quality and costeffective operations. DOF ASA is the holding company for DOF Subsea AS, Norskan Offshore Ltda and DOF Management AS.

DOF has offices all over the world, close to all major oil and gas regions. During the last decade the company has invested in key regions such as the South Atlantic, Brazil and Asia Pacific whilst continuing to grow in the North Sea and West African regions. The company is still heavily represented in the North Sea.

Specialist offering

The DOF group operates within three different segments in relation to strategic fields of activity and vessel types: Platform Supply Vessels (PSV), Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels (AHTS) and Construction Support Vessels/Subsea ROV Vessels (CSV).

The fleet average age is 6 years, making it one of the most modern in the market. The total fleet (including new-builds) currently consists of 23 PSVs, 20 AHTS vessels and 31 CSVs. In addition, DOF also owns and operates a fleet of highly sophisticated ROVs.

In 2012, the group took delivery of eight new vessels, making it one of the world’s largest modern high-end offshore fleets. The 74 innovative and highly specialised fleet vessels are continuously in global demand for use in the oil and gas sector, each designed to suit specific services. In September 2012, DOF also carried out a successful placement of an unsecured bond loan of NOK 700 million, with a term of 7 years.

The company offers a full spectrum of top-quality services to facilitate an evergrowing and demanding industry, and the corporate aim is to develop into the global offshore partner of preference.

New year, new contracts

In January this year the group announced that the DOF Subsea Group has secured multiple contract awards in the North Sea and the Asia Pacific region, with a total contract value of about $130 million.

The North Sea contracts were agreed with key clients in the UK and Norway. The scopes comprise installation of mooring systems and flexible flowline systems, construction support, survey and inspection work and will be executed with the vessels Skandi Skolten, Geosund, Geoholm and the new-built Skandi Bergen. The engineering will be carried out at DOF Subsea’s offices in Aberdeen and Bergen. In the Asia Pacific region DOF Subsea has secured several contracts with four key clients. The contract awards span a wide range of subsea project activities and include subsea structure installation, pipe lay and field maintenance in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The contracts will increase the utilisation of the vessels Skandi Hercules and Skandi Hawk. DOF’s CEO, Mons S. Aase, said that he was very pleased with the new contract awards, as they are improving the contract coverage for the project fleet.

Environmentally friendly fleet

A key factor in its operational development is the group-wide importance placed on the ecological sustainability of its activities. DOF is committed to developing all operations to be as sustainable and responsible as possible while delivering the level of service required by the market. DOF is now building all its vessels with eco-designed solutions for reducing emissions and cutting fuel consumptions. DOF has a deep-rooted health, safety, environmental and quality culture, which is evident in all parts of the system. The combination of expertise and experience in quality assurance and dedicated resources to this function are considered a key to corporate success.

To ensure customer satisfaction, the group sets ambitious key performance indicators for future deliveries: in 2011, for example, 97 per cent uptime for offshore operations on vessel and ROV operations was achieved.

Outlook for the group

Over 30 years have passed since DOF was founded with the aim to be a leading participant in the growing North Sea offshore industry. The business concept, based on a long-term strategy to provide a modern fleet of offshore vessels, and to engage these vessels on long-term contracts has paid off, and today the group operates with offices and vessels all over the world.

While the primary vision has remained the same, the services offered to the market are more complex, diversified and have moved onto a global scale. The company is always looking for new and profitable markets, innovative vessel designs and better, safer and more efficient ways to provide services.

DOF’s management strongly believe in the value of human capital – with a corporate commitment to what is called “our most powerful resource”: a motivated workforce with the skills, knowledge, loyalty, and ability to set ambitious goals and deliver them, today and in the future. n