Management of laid-up vessels

When a ship is taken out of service and placed in lay-up, professional management and supervision are crucial to ensure the vessel remains in the best possible condition. Since 2015, Farmar has provided management services for laid-up vessels in Farsund and Lyngdal.

Today, the lay-up fleet consists of between 15 and 20 vessels, mostly seismic ships.

We handle all formalities and practical tasks on behalf of shipowners, offering full support throughout the entire lay-up period. This includes standby tugs, qualified watchkeeping personnel, and 24/7 readiness for immediate response when required.

To maintain safety and preparedness, our watch teams carry out daily inspections of the laid-up vessels. These inspections include checking moorings, machinery and hull integrity to identify any potential fire hazards or water ingress.

Each week, we start up the emergency generators and rotate the engines. Once a month, a more thorough inspection is conducted, including water sampling from the engines.

When a ship arrives for lay-up, it usually enters port with a full crew. Shut-down and connection to shore power take around one week, after which we assume full responsibility.

• Securing safe moorings
• Continuous monitoring of power supply
• Prevention of leaks and machine failures
• Strict access control - no unauthorised persons are allowed on board
• Safety and emergency preparedness - around the clock

The port area in Farsund is fenced and monitored by CCTV, and during severe weather all available tugs are placed on standby. Each vessel is also fitted with an alarm system, and if triggered, our response time is under 30 minutes.

The most critical scenario is a so-called “bilge alarm”, indicating a potential leak. Fortunately, our team has never experienced this – but we remain fully prepared for any situation.

With our extensive experience and dedicated team, shipowners can rest assured that their vessels are cared for in the best possible way – from the moment they arrive in the lay-up harbour until they are ready for new assignments.