110 days of rig-moving in winter seas

30. March 2026

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What was meant to be a straightforward relocation between two ports turned into one of the longest rig assignments a Farmar tug has ever taken part in.

The weather windows were short. So it was important to take advantage of good conditions - like this one (Photo: Henrik Lauritsen)

Text: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

It began as a demanding but familiar operation: a jack-up rig was to be moved from Den Helder in the Netherlands to Liverpool in the United Kingdom.

But what would normally have been a tow lasting just a few weeks soon developed into a gruelling winter test for both crew and vessel.

Only after 110 days was the rig finally towed into port.

"THIS IS PROBABLY the longest assignment we have ever had involving a tug, measured in duration. The weather meant the operation took significantly longer than planned, but the crew performed solidly throughout the entire period,” says John W. Nilsen, Managing Director of Farmar.

When a jack-up rig is being moved, the margins are small. The rig normally stands on the seabed on its own legs, and during towing there are strict requirements for both wind and wave height.

In the winter months, such weather windows are often few and far between. This winter has brought even harsher weather than usual.

AS A RESULT, the journey north progressed slowly. After each stage, the rig’s legs were lowered so that the installation could stand safely on its own while waiting for suitable towing conditions.

Two tugboats took part in the operation: Farmar Arion and a tug from another shipping company. A large part of the work consisted of standby duty and waiting, with crew and vessels ready to continue as soon as conditions allowed.

The length of the assignment also left its mark on operations on board. Farmar Arion had to change crew several times along the way. Normally, the crew works in four-week rotations, but this operation went on for so long that several shifts had to rotate in.

ON THE FINAL stage, there was also an extra person on board, as the tug was due to assist with anchor handling when the rig arrived in Liverpool.

The winter months are normally a quieter period for the tugboats.

“That is why it was very good to have the largest vessel in our fleet at work for so many days. Now that spring has arrived, we would normally expect more jobs to come in,” says Nilsen.