Rune Morten Narvag got his first break in the oil and gas industry aged just 16-years-old.
Today, 37 years after the industry veteran’s career began, his colleagues held a moments silence in tribute to him.
The 53-year-old, who worked for Aker Solutions as an offshore team leader in Aker Solutions subsea department, was killed six days ago after a freak wave hit the COSL Innovator accommodation rig.
He had been flown alongside his injured colleagues in a Sea King helicopter from the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre as well as one of Statoil’s own SAR helicopters but later succumbed to his injuries.
Rune was described by staff at Aker Solutions as a “sociable, engaged and hearty person” who was “often the centre of attention” in a group.
He had worked in the oil and gas for more than three decades and for the past 20 years he had been involved in Aker’s subsea productions.
A spokeswoman for the company said: “Rune was very comfortable at sea, and he had worked on several different vessels and rigs these years. He was a sociable, engaged and hearty person who often was the centre of attention in a group.
“He knew how to talk to a crowd, had a solid memory and was very competent. Rune was focused on improvement and several of his suggestions were utilized.
“For us in Aker Solutions this incident is very sad and our thoughts go to those who were close to Rune. We have lost a highly cherished colleague who will be deeply missed.”
The rig was on contract to Statoil in the Troll field west of Bergen when the accident happened. Two other personnel were injured and were treated for the injuries by medical teams in Norway.
Statoil said the rig had been taken off the well due to the heavy weather caused by Storm Frank when the incident occurred.
The wave has also reportedly caused damage to the rig’s accommodation module.
The injured workers were flown to land by a Sea King helicopter from the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre as well as one of Statoil’s own SAR helicopters.
The rig’s captain Henning Bruvik told Norwegian news channel NRK the wave which hit the rig was at the mid-point of two decks of the living quarters that spans one side of the rig at a height of about 20 to 25 metres above the water level.
The wave broke through six cabin windows on the lower deck and 11 on the middle deck.