Farmar plays key role in spectacular operation

Text: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

“In addition to providing tugboat services, we prepared an operations manual and arranged for a towmaster,” says John W. Nilsen, managing director of Farmar.

The float-on operation marked the end of two months of work at Windport in Mandal, where the rig underwent inspections, repairs and upgrades before being transported to Equinor's Empire Wind project.

– COOPERATION with our client Macro Offshore has been very good, and together with the Norwegian Coastal Administration, GOT and the shipping company of the heavy lift vessel GPO Grace, we have delivered another successful assignment. We are grateful for the trust placed in us and look forward to the next time, says Nilsen.

The tugboats involved were Farmar Ares, Farmar Athos and FFS Atlas. They assisted with the arrival of the heavy lift vessel, helped during the float-on operation itself, remained on standby after the rig had been moved on board, and helped to ensure that the departure from Klevefjorden in Mandal went smoothly.

INSPECTION OF Crossway Eagle at the forefront was carried out in a very special and groundbreaking way.

The accommodation rig was lifted onto a giant barge, one leg at a time. This method makes it possible to inspect the rig's spud cans without docking.

The Crossway Eagle is now being transported to New York, where it will be used in offshore wind projects.

Turid Storhaug, general manager of Windport on Gismerøya in Mandal, closely followed the spectacular float-on operation and was impressed.

"It's very exciting to follow," Storhaug tells Fædrelandsvennen.

FARMAR HAS was involved in several float-on operations previously – including in autumn 2021 and winter 2022.

Heavy lift vessels were then loaded in Spindfjorden. First with a pirate-proofed residential barge, then with three ships to be transported to Turkey.