Harding to Supply Lifeboats for Johan Sverdrup

Statoil has awarded Harding a contract for delivery of the nine free-fall lifeboats needed for the first phase of the Johan Sverdrup North Sea development.   

The contract comprises nine FF1200- lifeboats, with nine corresponding LA 1200 SU davits, and constitutes a relatively large order on Harding's scale. The nine lifesaving systems will be delivered during 2017, and will then be installed on the living quarters platform for Johan Sverdrup. Both the lifeboats and the davit system have been developed by Harding in Norway. The lifeboats will be built in Norway, while the davits will be assembled at one of Harding’s overseas locations.    

Harding CEO Styrk Bekkenes said, "The Johan Sverdrup delivery has been one of the few big contracts for new oil and gas developments in Norway, for which we have been able to compete lately, and we have been through an extremely tough and demanding tender process, characterized by a sharp focus on costs and technical solutions. By having the winning tender, we are demonstrating that Harding can deliver quality on time at the right price, even during difficult times."

He admits that Harding has, too, felt the consequences of the fall in oil price and reduced levels of investments in the oil and gas industry.  

"We have met this challenge with a comprehensive restructuring process, in which we have worked on reducing costs in order to maintain our competitive edge. The Johan Sverdrup delivery demonstrates that, to a great extent, we have succeeded with this work," Bekkenes said.     

Statoil has, for many years, been Harding's most important customer in the North Sea, the company said. 

"It is important for us to be a part of Statoil (STO)’s future developments on the Norwegian shelf, and this first delivery to Johan Sverdrup plays a part in positioning Harding for new phases in this field, as well as a possible development of the Johan Castberg field," Bekkenes said.