FFS Aton helps cabin owners in the archipelago

Text and photo: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

- "Today we'll be helping three customers in four different destinations," says the skipper on board.

The clock has just passed seven. The morning sun is fighting to get through the thin layer of clouds. On the water, there's hardly a ripple to be seen.

Skipper Leirvik playfully manoeuvres the 32-metre by 14-metre barge from Farmar's base in Lundevågen. Joining him as crew on this lovely spring day are his sea-savvy colleagues.

FIRST STOP is Kollavika on Langøy. Egil Aunevik and Jarl Reinertsen are waiting on a jetty. A mini excavator has done the job for the former. It will now be transported to Melkevika on Skarvøy, where the latter has a building project underway at his cabin.

It is narrow and shallow. Yet, it takes a lot for FFS Aton to admit defeat. Since it is built as a barge, the boat can manage shallows down to one meter. It is completely flat underneath, and the propellers do not stick out as on most other vessels.

- "It has a built-in water jet, which means that the propellers are shielded. This means we don't risk them hitting rocks or ropes," says the skipper.

THE MOST IMPORTANT feature onboard, according to the skipper, is still dynamic positioning (DP) - which ensures that the boat can maintain the same position using its own propellers. A computer onboard collects data about the impact of waves on the hull, about wind, which direction the vessel is pointing in, and current position. Then, command signals are sent to the vessel's propellers.

- This means that we can go very close to land without anchoring and without having to dock," says the skipper.

The mini excavator is easily hoisted onboard with one of the four cranes on FFS Aton, while the boat operates on DP several meters from shore.

Then, the journey continues to Skarvøy, where the excavator is unloaded again.

"NOW IT'S "Ullerøy next," says the skipper, and accelerates. Without giving the crew on board a backward glance. The FFS Aton's maximum speed of six knots doesn't scare anyone. But then this isn't a speedboat either.

"FFS Aton is very versatile. It is ideal for laying cables in narrow fjords, but can be used for much more. In the coming weeks, it will probably be used a lot for archipelago missions," says FFS chief John W. Nilsen.

On the idyllic Ullerøy, Frank Bulæg is to build a new cabin. For this, he needs both machinery and building materials. The first lift is an excavator. Then an ATV is unloaded, followed by about twenty big bags of gravel and sand.

"Without Farmar and their help, I would never have managed to transport an excavator out here. When we can also bring everything else in addition, it saves us many hours of work," says Bulæg, satisfied.

THE LAST DELIVERY is a waste container from Hansen-Renovasjon. The customer is Andor Simonsen on Langøy. He stands on shore and directs. The container lands exactly where it should.

Mission completed! The three working onboard sit in the bridge and chat. While the boat heads towards the base, they open their lunch boxes and enjoy a well-deserved sandwich lunch.

 - "It's a great boat to work on," says one of the sailors, scratching his beard.

- "Yes, up here we actually have a bridge, galley and living quarters all in one," the other sailor adds.