Maintenance work on seismic boats

Text and photo: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

- From these winches, the cables run through the pulleys and out into the sea. We don't know whether the Ramform Explorer will be activated again. But when the boat is idle for so long, the equipment must be checked regularly. The shipping company always keeps the ships ready to go out at short notice and we help where we can," says one of the mechanics at FFS.

Together with a colleague, he lifts a dismantled cylinder from the ground and unloads it onto a jacking trolley. It is then wheeled away.

"THE NEST STEP is to decide whether it should be overhauled or replaced, but that's up to others," says the mechanic.

A few decks below, there is also full activity. One of FFS's workboats docks at the ship's side before retrieving a hose from the suction truck belonging to Hansen Renovation. Oil-contaminated water is to be collected.

FURTHER OUT IN in Lundevågen, another seismic boat has moored. PGS Apollo is set to have a Pinger Pole installed, which is a signal transmitter used in seismic operations.

In a narrow shaft towards the bottom of the boat, two other mechanics are working.

- In addition to installing a Pinger Pole, we've taken out the housings in which they stand and sandblasted them. It's quite a big job. We're also under a bit of time pressure, as the boat will soon be travelling again," says one of the mechanics.