Global Maritime completes Njord platform disconnection and tow to shore

Global Maritime has successfully led the disconnection and towing operations of the Njord A semi-submersible floating production platform from the Njord field. The Njord A platform, which is due to be refurbished after being in production since 1997, arrived safely in Klosterfjorden on the 23rd August, where a handover to Kværner was achieved.

The 346 nautical-mile journey was carried out by Global Maritime, on behalf of the operator Statoil. The news follows the successful towing of the oil storage and offloading vessel Njord B by Global Maritime to Sterkoder, Kristiansund earlier this summer.

Global Maritime was responsible for the project management, engineering, design, fabrication and procurement of equipment, as well as all offshore management activities for the Njord A and Njord B mooring disconnection and tow.

Global Maritime’s responsibilities included the disconnection of 12 mooring lines, the recovery of one complete mooring line (excluding the suction anchor) for onshore inspection and the towing-in of the Njord A platform to Klosterfjorden outside the Kværner Stord yard. Statoil coordinated the decommissioning activities including the disconnection of risers and the temporary plugging of wells.

Global Maritime worked closely with Statoil`s Njord Future Marine Project and Operations Vessel and Rigmove that provided the vessels and rig positioning services for the offshore operations.

David Sutton, CEO of Global Maritime Consultancy & Engineering, commented:

“With a project of such complexity and with the subsea infrastructure still intact, it was crucial that mooring disconnection activities and the towing of the platform took place with maximum precision and care. This is what Global Maritime achieved with the platform being disconnected from its moorings, departing the field, and arriving in Stord ahead of schedule. We look forward to working with Statoil on future similar projects.”

Global Maritime specializes in marine warranty, dynamic positioning and engineering services in the offshore and marine sectors. Founded in 1979, headquartered in Stavanger and majority-owned by HitecVision, Global Maritime’s services span the entire offshore project lifecycle from engineering & design, construction and third party verification through to marine warranty surveying, dynamic positioning, installation, risk management and decommissioning.