AHEAD Magazine #2/2014

ahead A MAGAZINE FROM HARDING — 2/2014

enhancing safety – hook by hook With over a thousand jobs executed, and several major new contracts signed, Harding takes the lead in the global business of re-hooking lifeboats.

further growth >>

in brazil davits in a class >>

of their own

www.harding.no

DECEMBER 2014

1

ahead WELCOME TO THE HARDING MAGAZINE

welcome to our second edition of ahead!

We received great feedback on our first edition both internally and externally, and I sure hope we will meet your expectations also this time.

2014 has been a year of changes in the Harding organization. Besides the merger between our two companies, we have also established more or less a new HQ and reorganized the whole organization. If time was not flying away too fast before, it sure did in 2014.

Innovation has a long history in Harding. Amongst our many improved and quite unique products you can read about the enclosed davit system in the magazine. The system was launched in 2009 and today close to one thousand units have been sold and installed on board vessels and rigs worldwide.

Our dedicated Global Sales Director Services, Marcel Pex, has his mind focused on a lot of things these days. One of his major topics is the MSC.1/Circ.1392 that states that every lifeboat hook system must be compliant no later than the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 July 2014. This is important information to every ship owner and we have dedicated a large portion of our magazine to this subject.

Other than that, it is a great pleasure for me to announce our steady pace in the Brazilian market, where we have signed off even more contracts towards the drill ship market. Harding has a very active office in Rio de Janeiro and we are looking forward to grow our activities there even further.

I hope you enjoy our 2nd edition of Ahead, and please remember that your feedback is always appreciated!

Best Regards,

Bjørn Sturle Hillestad Global Sales & Marketing Director

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CO N T E N TS

4 The new Harding HQ officially opened 8 Enhancing safety

– hook by hook Since 2012, Harding has completed more than a thousand re-hookings. Several new, major global contracts ensure further growth, the most striking being the frame agreement with A. P. Moeller Maersk.

12 Harding’s growth in Brazil continues 13 The FF 1200 first to satisfy new NCS standard

Harding’s davit systems – in a class of their own

12

Since their introduction in 2008, customers all over the world have discovered the significant improvements enabled

by Harding’s innovative davit design.

17 Davit factory expansion in Poland 18 Selected Harding davits for two giants

22 The diver

– Harding’s popular TV commercial

19 Innovative davits for an innovative ship 20 Highlights 2014 23 Exhibition overview 2015

24 The world through a lens

26 New to Harding 28 Fuelling a great cause

DECEMBER 2014

3

>>

Fjord and mountains form a magnificent frame around Harding’s new headquarters on the Norwegian west coast.

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HARDING MAGAZINE

HARDING HQ

the new harding hq officially opened in norway

>>

On 22 August, Harding celebrated the grand opening of the company’s new headquarters. Over 300 employees, customers, sub-suppliers, and business acquaintances were gathered for a day of celebration, professional input, and socialising.

Having been spread across different locations in Norway since the establishment of Harding Safety in 2013, all of the company‘s Norway-based engineers, managers, and administrative staff have now been brought together in the new Harding headquarters at Seimsfoss – right on the shoreline of the beautiful Hardangerfjord.

“By consolidating our office employees in Norway under one roof, we are primarily able to provide our customers with even better products and services. In addition, the co-location also strengthens our feeling of belonging to one single Harding“, emphasises Harding MD, Styrk Bekkenes.

>>

Factory manager Arvid Skogseide (to the right), Hardings longest serving employee, had the honour of unveiling the new Harding logo alongside Styrk Bekkenes, Harding’s CEO.

DECEMBER 2014

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HARDING HQ

The grand opening on 22 August began with the solemn unveiling of the Harding logo on our new premises. This task was originally allocated to Norway‘s Minister of Trade and Industry, Monica Mæland. When she had to cancel, it was only fair that the honour was given to factory manager, Arvid Skogseide. With his 41 years of experience, Skogseide is Harding‘s longest serving employee.

When the applause following the unveiling had subsided, it was time for some professional input. The guests were served news and other information relevant to the LSA industry in a short seminar, with lectures from classification society DNV GL, consultant company Rystad Energy, designer and entrepreneur Bård Eker, as well as Harding‘s own chairman of the board.

>>

Lars Eirik Nicolaisen from Rystad Energy was one of several interesting speakers at the opening seminar. Nicolaisen shared Rystad Energy’s perception of the Norwegian oil service companies’ exposure to the global industry, with the key message that the companies are facing a few hard years right ahead before the market picks up again.

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HARDING HQ Truls Svendsen, a popular Norwegian TV host, really got the laughter going with his version of mega star Beyoncé’s dance from the «Single Ladies» music video.

After the seminar, all the guests stepped outside for some refreshments at Harding’s quay area. Here they had the opportunity to take a closer look inside the showcased FF 1200 freefall lifeboat, the CTL 38 cruise tender, and the Stinger fast rescue boat – displayed with appropriate davits.

The grand opening was concluded with a great dinner party, held in one of our production halls, next to our new main office.

DECEMBER 2014

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RE-HOOKING

Marcel Pex, Harding's Global Sales Director Services

>>

enhancing safety – hook by hook With over a thousand jobs executed, and several major new contracts signed, Harding takes the lead in the global business of re-hooking lifeboats.

In order to increase the safety of crew and passengers on the world’s oceans, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted amendments, in May 2011, to SOLAS Chapter III and the LSA Code, as well as the related Guidelines regarding lifeboat hook systems. These new rules define a standard for the design and operation of the vital hook systems with which all vessels must now comply. MSC.1/Circ.1392 states that every lifeboat hook system must be compliant no later than the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 July 2014.

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“A trendsetting agreement” “With the new requirements in effect, we estimate that around 20.000 vessels worldwide need to replace their hook systems to comply with MSC.1/Circ.1392. This poses a huge market opportunity for Harding”, says Marcel Pex, Global Sales Director Services in Harding.

The company has already made significant inroads into this part of the services market. Since 2012, Harding has completed more than a thousand re-hookings. Several new, major global contracts

Lifeboat hook systems >> The hook is a vital component in lifeboat

releases and retrievals. The hook system

connects a lifeboat to the wire(s) running

from the davit(s) during lowering and lifting

operation. When the lifeboat has reached

sea level, the hook is released either

manually or remotely from inside the life boat.

>>

Harding offers a complete range of new generation high quality hooks that come directly from the frontline of product development, techniques and regulations.

>> Harding’s SeaCure lifeboat release and

retrieval systems meet or exceed all IMO requirements or have an optional industry-recommended Secondary Safety System. The design is based on years of experience and feedback in service.

It is safe to use and simple to operate and maintain. The SeaCure hook improves safety of crews and increases their confidence in their lifeboats.

DECEMBER 2014

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RE-HOOKING

>>

“We give our customers a lot of predictability by offering a closed and competitive price for the whole job.”

ensure further growth, the most striking being the frame agreement with A. P. Moeller Maersk.

“A.P. Moeller Maersk is the biggest shipping company in the world, and our frame agreement with them is truly a trendsetter in the market. They have given us the task of installing new hook systems on all of their non-compliant vessels. The agreement also includes regular five-yearly services and spare parts for the lifesaving equipment on board A.P Moeller Maersk’s entire fleet”, Pex elaborates.

In addition to the sheer scale of the agreement, Harding’s Global Sales Director Services points out another aspect that’s also a feather in Harding’s cap.

Ready and able – wherever and whenever Besides the fact that the Harding system is safe, simple, and secure, he believes predictability and reliability are Harding’s main selling points when competing for re-hooking assignments.

“We give our customers a lot of predictability by offering a closed and competitive price for the whole job. Through our global service network, we have an availability of service engineers worldwide which enables us to re-hook wherever a vessel is docking or calling to port. Of all the lifeboat manufacturers, we are also the only one

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with a substantial service organisation already established in China. With 60 percent of all vessels dry-docking at Chinese yards, this is a huge advantage both for us and our customers”, says Harding’s Global Sales Director Services before adding: “I often hear from customers that it was Harding’s reliability that tipped the scale in our favour regarding a new contract. It’s easy to give a customer a competitive offer, but you still need to do all the work. The scale of our organisation, and the experience we have, are often behind the customer’s confidence in starting to work with us.”

Harding can re-hook vessels equipped with any brand of lifesaving equipment.

“When a customer lets us take care of a whole fleet, the standardisation of the hook systems we provide increases safety even further. With only one system to train for with the Harding CBT and training sets, the crews will always know how to operate the system – even if they work on different vessels within the fleet. Fleet agreements also bring economic advantages to the customers.

By increasing their scale of business with Harding, the customer gains a better position in the negotiations for future service deals”, Marcel Pex points out.

RE-HOOKING

The challenge For more than a decade, lifeboat and rescue boat release hooks have caused several accidents due to design faults, lack of maintenance and poor training. In addition, the concern for hook failure has made crews reluctant to execute necessary drills. This situation has lowered the reputation of lifeboats as lifesaving appliances.

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Until July 2013

July 2013 – June 2014

July 2014 – 2019

A period for self-assessment and review of hook designs.

A period for ship-owners to plan and start their re-hookings.

The implementation period.

MSC.1/Circ.1392 states that all hook retrofits must be carried out in the first scheduled dry docking after 1 July 2014, and not later than 1.July 2019, to be compliant with the new regulations.

Some people are in for a surprise With the new hook system regulations already effectuated, some ship owners find themselves in a hurry.

“We’ve been focusing on this issue in Harding for quite some time, arranging seminars, and explaining to our customers what the regulations mean, and how they need to prepare for them. Many ship-owners or operators have chosen to postpone their actions.

Now the rules are effectuated, and customers have limited time in which to get the job done. This has resulted in situations where ship owners find out that they need to re-hook their systems only days in advance of a dry docking.

This causes severe problems, because we need time for drawings, calculations and approval from a classification society before we start re-hooking the lifeboats. Between the start of such a project and installation, we normally need two to three months in order to get all the paperwork and preparations ready. So think ahead! Don’t start preparations the week before the yard stay”, Pex advices.

Summary of new requirements MSC 89 adopted/approved:

>> Resolution MSC. 317 (89) introduces new requirements

under SOLAS regulation III/1.5 for lifeboat release and retrieval systems (OLRRS). The requirements apply to on-load mechanisms installed on all ships. The entry into force date is January 1, 2013, and the requirements will take effect on July 1, 2014.

>> Resolution MSC. 320 (89) revises the LSA Code (Chapter IV). The entry into force date is January 1, 2013. The main purpose of the revision of chapter IV of the Code is to prevent unexpected accidents during lifeboat drills and/or inspections.

>> MSC.1/Circ.1392, Guidelines for Evaluation and Re-

placement of Lifeboat Release and Retrieval Systems.

These Guidelines are only applicable to existing OLRRS. They cover: design review; performance tests; reporting the evaluation results for existing OLRRS; one-time follow-up overhaul examination; and procedure for replacing noncompliant OLRRS.

>> MSC.1/Circ.1393, MSC circular on Early Application of

new SOLAS regulation III/1.5. This circular clarifies the application to new builds, and encourages the use of compliant OLRRS at the earliest opportunity

>> Resolution MSC.321 (89), Amendments to the revised

recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (Resolution MSC.81 (70), as amended), relevant to the revised LSA Code Chapter IV.

DECEMBER 2014

11

News

>>

harding’s growth in brazil continues The Brazilian shipyard Enseada has ordered lifeboats, davits, and rescue boats for five new drillships, which will be delivered between 2015 and 2018.

During the past year and a half, Harding has secured contracts for similar lifesaving packages for a total of 16 ships, which will carry out drilling for the Brazilian oil company Petrobras.

The Enseada shipyard, (previously Estaleiro Enseada do Paraguacu – EEP) having acquired lifesaving equipment from Harding for a single drillship, chose last autumn to redeem its option for deliveries for a further five large drillships. Consequently, from 2015 to 2018, Harding will be supplying the shipyard with survival packages for each ship, comprising two lifeboats with a 100 person capacity, two lifeboats with 80 person capacity, one rescue boat (MOB boat), as well as davits for both the lifeboats and the rescue boat.

“The customer wants quality and functionality“ “These are significant contracts for us, and it is gratifying to confirm that we have secured similar orders for a total of 16 drillships over the past eighteen months, which Sete Brazil will administrate for the Brazilian oil giant Petrobras“, says Group Sales Manager for Harding, Per Korsvold.

He believes the need for quality and functionality has been a determining factor for the customers in the allocation of all 16 contracts.

“The drillships will enter into 15 year contracts with Petrobras.

When they are out in the field, the end customer has neither the time nor the money to take the ships out of production in order to renew lifeboats. Therefore they must have quality products with a long service life, and that‘s what they get from us“, Korsvold states.

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It was the initial deliveries to drillships that secured Harding a breakthrough in the Brazilian market. Today this foothold has been reinforced further.

Extraordinary growth in a tough market “These contracts have contributed significantly to building up Harding‘s position and reputation in Brazil. We have won substantial contracts, and are receiving positive feedback on the quality of our products. These are strong signals to be reaping in a very tough market. In fact, 2013 and 2014 have been fairly poor years with regard to new construction activity in the offshore sector. Here, we have differed, with a fantastic and unique level of growth compared to other companies who deliver products and solutions to the Brazilian oil and gas industry“, Korsvold elaborates.

Harding has had a sales office in Rio de Janeiro since 2010, and a service station in Niterói since 2011.

“We have a skilled service team in Brazil, and they too have done well. Earlier this year they were awarded a significant framework agreement for the service and maintenance of 68 lifeboats on Petrobras‘s ships and offshore installations. We are now working on securing a similar contract with the company who will be operating several of the drillships for which we are supplying lifesaving equipment“, Per Korsvold reveals.

NEWS

harding‘s ff 1200:

the first lifeboat to satisfy the new ncs standard

>>

FF 1200 is the very first lifeboat to have received a Statement of Compliance from DNV-GL, confirming that the lifeboat satisfies the new standard on the Norwegian shelf.

In 2009, the classification society DNV GL launched the new standard for lifeboats operating on the Norwegian shelf (DNV-OS-E406).

This standard formed the foundation for the development of Harding’s flagship, the freefall lifeboat FF 1200, and in October DNV GL issued the Statement of Compliance confirming that the lifeboat meets its requirements. The statement simultaneously confirms that the FF 1200 satisfies the requirements of Statoil’s extended standard for freefall lifeboats (GL0437).

A long and thorough process “We at Harding are naturally very proud of being the company that is issued with the first Statement of Compliance from DNV GL. It is this classification society that has been the driving force for the development of this standard, and for us in Harding, it has been important to run this approval process, with regard to 406, via DNV GL in particular”, says Alf Eidsvik, Technical Director for Harding Safety AS.

He tells us that there is a long and extremely thorough process behind this seal of approval.

“It is not only the product that has been subject to rigorous testing and documentation. All the methodology, work methods, and software used in the development and production of the lifeboat have been reviewed and evaluated too. All of this has been done to enable us to offer the safest possible lifeboat to offshore personnel working off shore”, says Eidsvik.

“An important milestone” DNV GL also find it gratifying that their new standard has been used to design a freefall lifeboat.

“This signifies that an important milestone has been reached, now that we have been able to issue the first SoC with reference to E406, and have thereby documented the standard’s use in practice”, says Prashant K. Soni, Business Development Leader – Marine Structures Trondheim & Lifeboats at DNV GL.

“We at Harding are naturally very proud of being the company that is issued with the first Statement of Compliance from DNV GL”, says Alf Eidsvik, Technical Director for Harding Safety AS.

DECEMBER 2014

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DAV I T S Y S T E M S

Bogdan Yevchuk, Senior Engineer Davit.

davits in a class of their own >>

Harding‘s own series of compact and closed davits has become a great commercial success. Since their introduction in 2008, customers all over the world have discovered the significant improvements enabled by the new design.

Today, more than 800 davit systems of this type have been installed on a range of different vessels and rigs.

As lifeboat davits have looked more or less the same since the beginning of the 1900s up until the mid 2000s, Harding’s product developers believed it was time for a new and improved solution. A completely new concept was developed, and in 2008 we launched the first davits with the new compact, enclosed system, of which Harding is presently the only supplier.

“Harding’s davits possess many advantages, however, the most important of these are increased levels of safety, reliability and longevity”, says Bogdan Yevchuk, senior engineer in Harding’s davit department.

Less rust While traditional davits have the machinery situated on the outside of the actual davit structure, Harding has packed all the equipment inside the actual davit. Therefore everything, including the winch cable, the

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HARDING MAGAZINE

winch mechanism, the hydraulic system, and the electronics, is sheltered from the wind, weather, and other external influences. This increases the probability of the equipment working correctly when it’s really needed, plus the maintenance requirements are substantially reduced.

“The design reduces, amongst other things, the risk of vital equipment succumbing to rust.”, Yevchuk elaborates. He adds that it also is easy to access the equipment for inspections and maintenance via hatches in the davit structure.

Harding’s davit design also has an important safety aspect.

“As all the rotating and movable parts are encased behind steel, the danger of personnel being injured during lowering and raising of the lifeboats and rescue boats is reduced”, the young senior engineer points out.

Able to lift working load Harding has, so far, developed 34 class-approved davits with this innovative design.

These are in use on ships and rigs all over the world, and can be roughly divided into three categories: one-armed davits, two-armed davits, and telescopic davits.

The two first-mentioned can be supplied to both rigs and ships, while the telescopic variety is only for ships, as it must be mounted at a deck level that is above the actual rescue zone.

“The telescopic davits, which are designed for launching and retrieving workboats, rescue boats, daughter vessels, and lifeboats on board smaller vessels, are enjoying a high level of popularity at the moment. There is often little space for lifesaving equipment on board new ships, and the telescopic davit is an extremely space-saving solution”, Yevchuk explains.

Davit Systems – Key features Safety/reliability

>> As the davit structure envelops the hydraulic winch,

electrical components, cylinders, hydraulics and accumulator, the structure protects the machinery from environmental loads, such as sun, salt, sea water, rain, sand, and ice, as well as exhaust fumes and other local pollution. This enclosed design increases both the reliability and lifespan of the davits, as well as the safety of people operating the davit.

>> As Harding’s davits have the same operational pattern

for drills and crisis situations, Harding’s davits increase safety by providing operators with excellent davit training by way of regular use.

>> By using plate structure instead of box bar structure,

the design allows for excellent access to all areas for maintenance work, such as sandblasting, priming, and painting. The machinery is easily accessible through well-positioned hatches.

>> The davits’ hydraulic systems ensure correct lowering

speed, hoisting, and braking force. The fully adjustable hydraulic system ensures that winch speed is easily adjusted to comply with IMO requirements.

Shipment/installation

>> The compact design allows for easier and more efficient transportation to the construction yards.

>> The compact davits are designed as plug & play systems, making installation quicker and easier. The plug & play feature also reduces the potential for mistakes during installation. Foot hinges can be shipped in advance, allowing welding before installation.

>> The davit structure consists of steel plates that are

welded together, with the hydraulic oil tank and foundation for equipment being part of the supporting structure.

This means that additional steel used for mounting of equipment is kept to a minimum, making the davit lighter.

Comfort

>> All winches have gradual action and two speed function

as standard, making the operation as smooth as possible for both humans and the structure itself.

Multiple options

>> The enclosed design is already prepared for installation of heating elements, enabling operations in extremely cold climates.

A wide range of other options is available.

Quality

>> Each Harding davit is rigorously tested at the factory

before shipping, and all davits are designed and delivered in accordance with the latest IMO/SOLAS requirements: LSA Code and European Council Directive 96/98 on Marine Equipment (MED).

DECEMBER 2014

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DAV I T S Y S T E M S

>>

The space-saving telescopic davits are popular among Harding’s customers these days.

“We are now working on making our davits even more user-friendly”, says Senior Engineer Bogdan Yevchuk.

The Harding davits have a range of capacities from 1.3 to 23 tonnes safe working load.

In contrast to the majority of the competitors’ solutions, the Harding davits can both lower and raise the safe working load. This means that the biggest davits can lift lifeboats with 150 people on board. This lifting capacity far exceeds the requirements stipulated by the international regulations (Solas).

“In the regulations it is stipulated that the lifeboat davit should only be able to lower the safe working load. The lifting capacity requirement is limited only to the lifeboat and a crew of up to three people. We wish, however, to surpass the regulations in this area. Some customers also want the possibility of lifting

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HARDING MAGAZINE

full lifeboats in a single manoeuvre, because it simplifies and streamlines lifeboat drills“, Yevchuk explains.

The davit experts at Harding work continuously on developing the product range.

“One of the things we are focused on at the moment is developing davits that meet the requirements of the demanding Norwegian regulations for the Norwegian shelf. Furthermore, we are working on new solutions for telescopic davits and winterisation, and we are also working on making our davits even more user-friendly via new user procedures, training courses, manuals, and simplified remote controls”, Yevchuk informs us.

HARDING IN POLAND

davit factory

expansion in poland >>

A new extension will triple the number of davits that can be tested daily.

Since its startup in 2012, Harding’s davit factory in Solec Kujawski has experienced substantial growth. The number of employees has increased from 7 to 74(!), and the number of davits supplied annually by the factory has increased significantly, compared to 220 davits, the number for which the production line was dimensioned.

“Our davit production in Poland has been like a fairy-tale, and its growth says a lot about Harding’s compact and closed davit series’ popularity.”, says Tom Jensen, Harding’s Global Production and Procurement Director.

The disadvantage of this is that production has already outgrown the present day factory premises. It is the testing area in particular, where all davits are tested and certified in accordance with current class requirements, which has become a bottleneck. In order to solve this, Harding has resolved to expand the factory building by 1650 square metres. A new test centre will occupy most of this space.

“We are tripling the number of davits we can test annually with this new test centre. This will aid us in increasing the factory’s production capacity in accordance with expected growth, as well as easing production flow.”, Jensen informs us.

The new building also provides space for a new machining workshop, expansion of the canteen, as well as improved cloakroom facilities. As a part of the expansion, 50 new parking spaces will also be created outside.

“The plan is to break ground in April, and we hope to start using the extension in the course of the autumn of 2015.”, says Jensen.

Harding has also made plans for a stage two build, where they intend to enlarge the actual production area by 2400 square metres.

It has not yet been decided if or when this further expansion will take place.

DECEMBER 2014

17

THE CUSTOMER

Atle Vik, Vessel Manager in North Sea Shipping.

selected harding davits

>>

for two giants When North Sea Shipping was equipping their two large construction vessels the „North Sea Giant“ and the „North Sea Atlantic“ with lifesaving equipment, the shipping company opted for Harding‘s davit solution. „We are very happy with our choice”, says Vessel Manager Atle Vik.

North Sea Shipping is a Norwegian shipping company offering advanced offshore vessels and management services for the global oil and gas industry.

The shipping company presently operates three ships, two of these, the offshore construction vessels “North Sea Giant” (2011) and “North Sea Atlantic” (2014), are equipped with Harding davits and lifeboats. With its 160-metre length and 30-metre breadth, the “North Sea Giant” is one of the world’s largest ships for offshore construction projects.

The enclosed aspect was the deciding factor “We chose the Harding davits for these two ships because we found the concept to be very interesting. The encapsulating of the winch mechanism was a deciding factor for us.

This solution protects vital components from sea spray, ice, snow, and sand, which is an important factor for vessels built to work in all kinds of environments, all over the world. The closed davits grant the lifesaving equipment both increased longevity and increased safety levels. In addition, the simple and fast installation means savings on costs during the building phase”, says Atle Vik. Maintenance of traditional lifeboat davits on other ships in service within the company often involves high pressure hosing to remove salt, which may cause rusting.

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“We have experienced on several occasions that this hosing has also removed a great deal of the lubrication in the winch machinery. We avoid this problem completely with Harding’s davits, and the maintenance requirements are simultaneously reduced, compared to more traditional winch solutions”, says Vik.

Satisfied with products and services The vessel Manager tells us that the shipping company is generally very satisfied with Harding’s products.

“We have, admittedly, indicated some minor design errors, but I have no problems in recommending the davits. As well as the product itself functioning well on board the ships, I would also like to mention the level of service that we have experienced. The people in Harding have been pleasant, helpful, and readily available.

The small challenges that have popped up underway have been solved smoothly, together”, Vik elaborates.

He doesn’t exclude the possibility that Harding may again be chosen as lifesaving equipment suppliers at a later date.

“Our experiences so far mean that the company is an appropriate partner in providing davits for any new construction projects. The only prerequisite is that they iron out the small design errors that we have indicated, and I expect they will”, says Vik.

>>

DELIVERY

With its 160-metre length and 30-metre breadth, the „North Sea Giant“ is one of the world‘s largest ships for offshore construction projects.

«Pierre de Fermat»

innovative davits for an innovative ship Since summer 2014 Orange Marine’s new cable-ship «Pierre de Fermat» has been in operation, maintaining submarine cables in the Atlantic and North European waters. The innovative vessel is equipped with two sets of Harding’s space saving and innovative NPDL 7700 H davits, with belonging LBT 700 C lifeboats.

The NPDL-series are developed to be an alternative on vessels with limited space availability. Its narrow design is ideal where width of deck is limited. Even though we have reduced the outer dimensions, all vulnerable equipment is protected inside the davit structure. The davits are intended for long-term, reliable operation in harsh and hazardous marine and offshore environments.

«Pierre de Fermat» was constructed by VARD, and carries a fully-equipped ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) which enables the vessel to undertake installation and maintenance of all kinds of submarine cables, including fibre optic cables for the telecommunications sector or energy cables. The vessel’s capability includes survey or pre-inspection of the seabed and the cutting of trenches to bury the cable.

DECEMBER 2014

19

THE HARDING YEAR

highlights 2014 >>

At Harding, we can look back on an eventful year. Here are some glimpses from our many major and minor highlights throughout 2014.

NEW CONTRACT. In May Styrk Bekkenes, CEO of Harding Safety (left), and Rolf

Jebsen Arnesen, Leader Supply Chain Management in Statoil, signed a framework agreement for deliveries of new lifeboat systems, modifications, maintenance, and onshore services. The agreement has a five-year span, with an option for a further three plus three years. Statoil is Harding’s biggest customer on the Norwegian continental Shelf.

>>

20

MORE UPGRADES. Harding has seen an increase in upgrading of lifeboats in 2014, resulting in several assignments for our services division.

Harding’s Florida office completed the re-hooking on «Voyager of the Seas», one of the largest cruise ships in the world.

HARDING MAGAZINE

THE HARDING YEAR

SUCCESS IN HAMBURG. At the international maritime trade fair SMM in Hamburg, Harding signed a contract with the ferry company Spirit of Tasmania.

The contract consists of two sets of Stinger 630 fast rescue boats and belonging NPDS 3500 davits.

CRUISING COMEBACK. Harding has seen resurgence

in the cruise market this year, with several new contracts signed.

ONS. Harding’s stand at the ONS trade fair in Stavanger,

PREFERRED BY CANADIAN COAST GUARD. Harding in Canada sold three

Norway drew much interest among the more than 90.000 visitors.

Miranda davits to the Canadian Coast Guard. Two Miranda MRT 3900 davits are supplied for the ice strengthened coast guard vessel «CCGS Leonard J. Cowley», and a third davit of the same type is delivered to heavy icebreaker «CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent». Harding’s Miranda davit is the Canadian Coast Guard’s preferred davit for all vessels performing search and rescue work.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT. At Harding, we take our social responsibility seriously and support a variety of worthy causes in the communities we operate in. To help the children in Rosendal FUS kindergarten in Kvinnherad, Norway with practice their swimming safely, we handed out inflatable armbands to all the little ones.

UPGRADE. After drop-testing in Rosendal, 6 upgraded life-

boats were installed on the Draupner S and Heimdal platforms in the North Sea.

DECEMBER 2014

21

THE DIVER

popular harding commercial

>>

the diver

In the late summer of 2014, Harding launched their new advertising film, “The Diver“, with local Norwegian amateur actors in the main roles.

The film, which has been shown on prime time Norwegian national television, has received a lot of attention with just below 150.000 viewings on YouTube.

The film was first shown during the opening of Harding’s new building in Seimsfoss, Norway, on 22 August, to resounding applause from over 300 guests. Leading up to this, a substantial amount of film production work was carried out, based on an idea that came largely from Harding Safety itself.

With this film, Harding wishes to highlight a bold and improvement-focused tradition in our company history.

“Harding have been world leaders in the development of freefall lifeboats throughout their history, and we had this in mind while working on ideas. We felt that the situation in which an old person teaches a youngster to dive really hit the mark, as well as highlighting our position through the generations”, says Global Sales & Marketing Director Bjørn Sturle Hillestad.

“However, we didn’t make the film just to increase public knowledge of lifeboats and rescue equipment, but for internal reasons too. Harding was formed in 2013, and even though we have a long history on several fronts to look back over, we are still very young as a united company. “The Diver” has, without a doubt, contributed to increased pride in the workplace amongst our employees.

That means a lot to us. We have also reaped a lot of praise externally for the film, and it is both flattering and motivating that it has received so much attention”, says Hillestad.

Movie facts: >>

“What do you think about the high level of interest in the film?”

“When we made “The Diver” we wanted it to be a slightly “edgy” element in the maritime industry. We didn’t want a typical company film, focussing only on the product; instead we wanted a film showing Harding and our history in a somewhat different manner. I feel we have succeeded to a great extent in doing just that. The film tells a lovely story, so the fact that it is popular with most people doesn’t surprise me that much. Otherwise, I am very happy that we have a local provider who can take on film projects of this type, and the local actors, in particular, deserve praise for doing a great job”, commends Hillestad.

He believes the film has heightened people’s awareness of both the company, and the product that Harding delivers.

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Actors: Håvard Skibenes Johnsen (the diver as a young boy), Bjarte Epland (the diver as a man) and Kristian Lunde (grandfather).

>>

Shot on location in Kvinnherad and Stord, Norway.

>>

Director: Simeon Frohm.

>>

Produced by Zpirit advertising agency.

Click to watch the film.

exhibitions 2015 Europort, Istanbul

April 21–23

Sea Asia, Singapore

May 04–07

OTC, Houston

June 02–05

Norshipping, Oslo

September 08–11

Offshore Europe, Aberdeen

October 20–23

Kormarine, Busan

November 09–12

ADIPEC, ABU DHABI

December 01–04

Marintec China, Shanghai

List of exhibitions and conferences online: harding.no We look forward to seeing you soon!

N E W L I F E B O AT R E G U L AT I O N S F O R N C S :

March 11–14

>> the round of consultations has been concluded Following the 2005 exposure of defects and deficiencies in lifeboats used on the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea, the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority (Ptil) has prepared a proposal for new lifeboat regulations that will increase offshore safety. The round of consultations for the new regulations was concluded on 1 October, and there has been input from the industrial

organisation Norwegian Oil and Gas (Norsk olje og gass), unions, interest groups, and oil companies. According to Teknisk Ukeblad (Technical Weekly magazine), the Norwegian Safety Authority will now evaluate the comments and determine a so-called progress plan to achieve its aim of new regulations that the whole industry must follow.

DECEMBER 2014

23

HA RDING’S PHOTOGR A PHY CLUB

looking at the world

through a lens >>

“Our goal is, quite simply, to have fun together, and inspire each other to use our photography equipment even more often“, says Arild Lokøy, chairman of the company photography club HardingLinso.

It was in December 2013 that Lokøy and three other Hardingemployed photography enthusiasts established HardingLinso, the company’s own photography club.

Arild Lokøy

“We wish to create a forum in HardingLinso for enthusiastic photographers. At present we have 17 members. Any employees can join in principle, but for practical reasons it’s primarily open to colleagues in Norway, for the time being. In time, we could become more international, and we do, in fact, already have one member in the UK and one in the Czech Republic”, Lokøy tells us.

Since its start, the club has arranged a series of workshops, where various themes have been the subject for photography, courses, and discussions. They have set up their own website, and here members are invited to monthly photo competitions, amongst other things. Photographs that are taken during workshops are also shared on the website.

Lokøy continues that Harding Linso aims to be a dynamic photo club, with activities at least once a month.

Stepan Ludvik

“The most important thing is that we have fun together, share skills, inspire each other, and not least, get out there and take pictures”, says Lokøy.

He himself started taking photography seriously in 2005, when he got his first digital camera. He takes 10-15.000 shots a year at the most. His subjects are often nature and landscapes, and lifeboats, of course. Lokøy has taken several of the pictures used in Harding’s present day promotional material.

Geir Olav Guddal

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HARDING MAGAZINE

“It’s fun to combine work and a hobby, and the pictures of freefall lifeboats have also afforded the company important information about what actually happens when a lifeboat tears through the water”, Lokøy tells us, who works as Global Products Director for Harding.

Kristine Moldenhauer Biseth

Ivan Smisek

DECEMBER 2014

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NEW TO HARDING

Abdul, Singapore Position: Project Manager Hobby: Swimming, running, and boating Experience: 17 years Senior Project Manager

in Philips Electronics Singapore,

2 years Project Manager in

PerfectVision Vision Australia.

welcome! >>

At the beginning of November, Harding has welcomed 56 new employees

Frank, The Netherlands

around the world. Here you can meet

My name is Frank van der Tuijn, 33 years and born and raised in Schiedam. (The new planned hometown of Harding Safety Netherlands.)

some of our new faces.

I’ve started working at the Spares Department since the 1st of September and was introduced by Janneke van den Berg who I already know for some time. I am apparently the first Management Trainee within the company, so I hope I can live up to the expectations.

Before Harding, I worked in logistics at DB Schenker as an Accountmanager Logistics and before that I travelled around the world for 18 months with my fiancée Wendy, of which most part was in Australia. Other countries that we visited were: USA, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Bali (Indonesia), Singapore and Malaysia. Back in the Netherlands I started a Parttime Master study Business Administration, with a major in Strategic Management at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. I hope to graduate a little later this year.

2014 is a busy year, with graduating, a new job at Harding and to become father for the first time. We are expecting twins, 2 girls, at the end of the year. So we’ve got a very exciting period ahead.

Frank

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HARDING MAGAZINE

Leonardo, the USA In October Harding hired Leonardo da Motta as Area Sales Manager for the Florida location.

Leonardo will be based in Miami. His main focus in the beginning will be on the Cruise Segment.

Leonardo has extensive knowledge of all market segments of the LSA business since he was recently employed by La. Maritime and Fassmer Service America where he held the position of Sales Manager.

Prior to working with La. Maritime and Fassmer Service America, he worked 7 years for Viking and held the position of Sales and Service Manager, Latin America.

Leonardo brings to Harding a good reputation with our existing customer base, and also will attract new customers in Cruise, Offshore, and Merchant. Leonardo has already had productive meetings with RCCL, and NCL, along with assisting in the Panama area.

NEW TO HARDING

Kevin, Singapore

Eugene, Singapore

Designation: Service Engineer Level 4

By Harding since: 22nd Sept 2014 Hobbies: Reading, Water sports Experiences : Graduated with a Diploma in Mechatronic Engineering from Singapore

Polytechnic. Also acquired with Electrical, Electronic, Robotics,

Mechanical and AutoCAD skill through my 3 years course.

Besides having the relevant skills and an eye for detail, being a supervisor, I am able to work as a strong leading player who is able to guide and perform will under tight deadlines. I am a person with enthusiasm and eager to growth.

Position: Sales Manager Hobby: Basketball, table tennis,

online reading Experience: 7 years Engine Specialist in

Republic of Singapore Air-force,

3.5 years Account Manager in Sato

Asia Pacific, 5.5 years Senior Sales

Engineer in PM Control Pte Ltd.

Martha, Norway My name is Martha Korsvold Nerhus, 23 years old and born and raised in Kvinnherad.

This spring I moved back home to Kvinnherad after finishing my bachelor degree in Marketing Management and Sale from BI Bergen Norwegian Business School.

Straight after I graduated I started working at Harding. It has been a great time and really fun to get to know everyone at Seimsfoss and even someone from offices abroad. I’m really happy to get the chance to be part of the Harding team and to get the opportunity to work with and learn from talented people.

After moving home, my boyfriend and I bought an apartment that we currently are renovating. We are looking forward to get a place of our own and to move in.

At my spare time I like to exercise, especially to run or walk in the mountains and to hang out with my friends and family. Next year I will be responsible for marketing at Festidalen which is a music festival here in Kvinnherad. I think this will be a great opportunity to learn more about marketing and sale.

Martha

Erica, The Netherlands I live in Schipluiden, a small village near Rotterdam. Things I like to do in my spare time are reading books, having a great time with my family and friends and play my favorite sports, handball, which I’ve been doing since I was 6 years old.

I’m really looking forward to develop myself into someone who is a great adjustment to the team and learn as much as possible!

Erica Boks, Service Administrator

DECEMBER 2014

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fuelling a great cause When Jacqueline Zindel-Bergman, wife of Harding service engineer Peter Zindel, decided to run a charity race for cancer victims, both husband and company stepped up.

Since 1992, the Dutch Roparun Foundation has invited sporty people to participate in the Roparun – an annual 520-kilometre relay race starting in either Paris or Hamburg and finishing in Rotterdam. The purpose of the race is to raise funds for people afflicted by cancer. By supporting a variety of projects, the foundation attempts to make life easier for cancer patients under the motto: “Add life to the days, where often days can no longer be added to the life“.

“An unbelievable experience” This year’s race took place between 7–9 June, and among the thousands of participators were Jacqueline Zindel-Bergman, wife of Harding service engineer Peter Zindel, and her

team, the Energie Ladies. Driving the team to Paris, and providing moral backup and meals on wheels during the running and cycling adventure back to Rotterdam, the energetic ladies found great support in Peter Zindel and the minivan made available by Harding Safety Netherlands. The company also sponsored the fuel costs for the entire road trip.

“I got involved since this is a great charity to run for. The race itself is an unbelievable experience, with so many different teams competing, lots of spectators along the way who cheer you on, and entire villages decorated.

You feel like a hero. At the same time it’s a very emotional experience, because unfortunately everyone knows someone who has died from cancer”, says avid runner Jaqueline Zindel-Bergman. She estimates the she and the other runners each ran a total of 60 kilometres, day and night, during the relay race.

AHEAD® Harding Magazine is distributed to customers, partners and Harding employees.

www.harding.no

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HARDING MAGAZINE

Raised 16.000 Euros Jacqueline and her team members are thankful for Harding’s support. The company’s minivan provided them with lots of space for much needed rest, meals, and massage in between each leg of the race.

“With Harding also sponsoring the fuel, we were able to keep more money for charity.

That’s just super”, cheers Jacqueline.

The Energie Ladies managed to raise more than 16.000 Euros in total, by seeking sponsors and organising activities before the race. This was a great contribution to the more than 5 million Euros that were raised in this year’s Roparun.

Harding service engineer Peter Zindel and his wife Jacqueline Zindel-Bergman.

Responsible Publisher: Harding Safety AS Design and production: Zpirit Press: HBO Text: Zpirit, Harding Photos: Zpirit, Harding