Asco Norway revealed on the opening day of the Offshore Northern Seas oil show in Stavanger yesterday that it is about to create an Arctic base in the north of the country.
This will give the Aberdeen-based global logistics group the opportunity to offer greater support to oil and gas developments in the Barents Sea and northern parts of the Norwegian Sea.
The Arctic base will be spread over two locations – Kirkenes and Skjervoy – and will be a joint venture with Tschudi Shipping, which specialises in the ownership and management of vessels.
The move will create up to 25 jobs in the first phase.
Runar Hatletvedt, Asco’s managing director of northern North Sea operations, said: “Establishing an Arctic base gives us an unrivalled opportunity to create a logistics hub for the Russian market. In addition, most latest Norwegian exploration licenses are in the Norwegian Sea and in the Barents region, so it’s important that we are strategically located in the right places to take advantage of these potential markets.
“The base provides the potential for a direct link from western Europe into Russia. Transport by sea – which has huge environmental advantages over road – can be supported, particularly for materials coming from the UK and central Europe into Russia.”
For Asco, the new Arctic base development, is the culmination of four years’ expansion along the Norwegian coastline.
The company now has five supply bases in Farsund, Tananger, Kristiansund, Sandnessjoen and Mongstadbase in Bergen.
The recent acquisition of Risavika Harbour Service has meant the number of employees at Asco Norway has grown from just 35 three years ago, to just under 100.
Asco Norway serves 25 oil and gas installations in the southern Norwegian Sea, in addition to the major BP Skarv project which it won only last year.
In addition, it is handling the logistics for up to 15 major drilling projects per year along the Norwegian coastline. These include projects for BG, Dong, Lundin and Marathon.
Mr Hatletvedt added: “Our business model has been a big factor in the expansion of our business in Norway.
“We work closely with public bodies, including local councils, schools and local communities in general.
“Local councils contribute to the cost of building the infrastructure around our bases – for instance building warehouses which we agree to long-term lease. We then train and employ local people to work on our supply bases.
“Recently, we opened our new base in Sandnessjoen. Out of 10 new employees, one of these was an apprentice, and we have many more apprentices across all our operations.
Asco’s joint venture with Tschudi Shipping will be signed formally at the end of next month.
Asco has operations in the UK, Norway, Netherlands, America, Canada, Trinidad, Singapore and the Caspian and employs more than 1,500 people worldwide.