Energy logistics group Peterson said yesterday a record number of vessel sharing arrangements since the turn of the year highlighted a new spirit of collaboration in the troubled oil and gas industry.
Seven shares were arranged between operators in the central and northern North Sea in January and February alone, it added.
They were all were facilitated by Netherlands-based Peterson through the Aberdeen Marine Logistics Alliance (Amla), a vessel sharing initiative designed to maximise efficiency and reduce marine logistics costs.
Peterson is Amla facilitator, helping partners source cost-effective solutions for their unscheduled shipping requirements by arranging vessel shares with other firms operating in the North Sea – leading to lower costs and a reduced environmental impact.
It is estimated the financial benefit for companies involved in Amla vessel shares during 2014 and 2015, in increasingly challenging market conditions, totalled £2million.
According to Peterson, whose UK operation is based in Aberdeen, the initiative also achieved a reduction in CO2 emissions of about 800tonnes – the equivalent of taking 275 cars off the road for a year.
Peterson projects director Loek Sakkers said: “As was recently highlighted by (industry body) Oil and Gas UK and others, there is an urgent need for widespread collaboration in the North Sea.
“We share this view and believe significant opportunities exist within the supply chain to do just that through increased vessel sharing.
“The recent unprecedented number of vessel shares indicates that the industry is not only listening to the calls for greater collaboration but responding positively.
“We have a long-established record in providing vessel sharing initiatives, including the successful southern North Sea pool, and are delighted to be transferring this expertise to the wider North Sea region.”
James Crawford, UK and Africa managing director for Aberdeen-based energy service firm Wood Group PSN, said: “We are focused on working in collaboration with partners across the sector to find new opportunities to work together.
“Working with Amla and Peterson is a strong example of this and we are confident of the mutual benefits created by this model of combined sailings.
“We believe it can become best practice for the industry in the long-term.”
Peterson has been managing the southern North Sea pool, involving nine operators, for the past 15 years.
As well as addressing operators’ vessel requirements through Amla, the group is working with a number of UK North Sea operators to establish a pooled system for scheduled cargo movements.
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