More rig moves for the tugs

Text: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

"Farmar Arion immediately took on a rig move in the southern Dutch sector, while FFS Athos towed a barge from Høylandsbygd to Horten. Afterwards, both boats participated in the same "rig move" – also in the Dutch sector", says John W. Nilsen, general manager at Farmar.

The tow with the last rig covered about 100 nautical miles.

"THE JOB WAS to move the rig from one location in the field to another. This is usually what assignments of this type involve", says Nilsen.

The rigs are regularly moved between oil and gas fields in the North Sea. To complete the job, three vessels are typically commissioned – one anchor handling vessel and two tugboats.

BUT IT IS rare for FFS Arion and FFS Athos to be hired for the same assignment – as they were in August.

2023 was a record year for rig moves for Farmar, with an average of two jobs per month. Each rig move usually takes between two and five days.