Hanøytangen Under New Ownership

 

According to the Bergen Group, the industrial area at Hanøytangen outside Bergen has for many years been an important facility for its offshore division, but going forward the group has found a divestment necessary to strengthen the platform for further growth at Hanøytangen.

 

Magnus Stangeland, chairman of Bergen Group ASA, said, “The offshore market has become more challenging, volatile and complex. An increased international competition is expected, and this calls for a substantial and flexible project capacity as well as future investments in developing the yard. Bergen Group has in this respect evaluated various strategic alternatives and financial measures for Hanøytangen. Based on a comprehensive process, the board of directors in Bergen Group has concluded on a sale of both the real estate and the operating assets as the best alternative available.”

 

The parties plan a final closing within the next 3-4 weeks. The sale agreement does not include the positive financial effect of the ongoing rig project on Safe Bristolia, which is expected to be finalized by Bergen Group around closing time.

 

When closing has taken place, Bergen Group will pass its position as a provider of rig service, maintenance and classing over to Semco Maritime.

 

“Bergen Group has over many years worked with Semco Maritime on various projects at Hanøytangen,” Stangeland said. “We are satisfied with handing over the future development of this unique offshore yard to such a well-established international contracting and engineering company. We also see an exciting potential in a future cooperation between Bergen Group and the new owners at Hanøytangen, based on Bergen Group Services and their strong position within industrial and maritime service.”

 

Semco Maritime said it is looking forward to taking over the operational activities at Hanøytangen.

 

Steen Brødbæk, CEO of Semco Maritime, said, “The acquisition is an important strategic step for Semco Maritime in pursuing our ambition to become the North Sea leader within projects, service and maintenance for the rig market. Hanøytangen has excellent yard facilities and is the deepest dry dock in Europe. It is a perfect match to our existing facilities in Esbjerg and Invergordon. Hanøytangen completes our set up in the North Sea triangle, thus enabling us to provide a very strong proposition to our clients with one of the largest and strongest rig upgrades and service facilities in Europe.”

 

In addition to the sale of the operational activity to Semco Maritime, Bergen Group has also sold the company’s real estate at Hanøytangen to Hellik Teigen AS. This company has today a strong foothold at Hanøytangen, both through its ownership of Norscrap West, being the neighbouring company to the offshore yard, and through its presence as a major landowner in the area, the Bergen Group stated.

 

“Hanøytangen, with its location and facilities, is a unique site in a European context, and we are very satisfied with this opportunity to expand our ownership in the area,” said Ring Tore Teigen, CEO of Hellik Teigen AS. “We look forward to welcoming such a strong and reputable player as Semco Maritime on a permanent basis to Hanøytangen, and are certain that they will succeed in realizing the full market potential of the facilities.”

 

Brødbæk added, “We look forward to working with Hellik Teigen, who is a strong local partner, on the future development of the Hanøytangen facilities, where we see major possibilities. We enter this engagement to establish a strong third leg in our North Sea rig upgrade and service business and we are confident that we can transfer know how, procedures and best practice from our other units and tap into the market potential to make Hanøytangen successful and profitable.”