Norwegian oil giant Statoil has awarded a contract to Sentinel Marine to provide a new multi-role Emergency Response and Rescue Vessel (ERRV) to support operations on the Mariner field on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).
Sentinel Marine is an Aberdeen-based company, owning and operating offshore support vessels in the oil and gas marine industry.
The new 213 feet ship, to be named Mariner Sentinel, will be custom built for Statoil and provide emergency cover, oil spill response preparedness and tanker assist capabilities for the Mariner field.
The ERRV contract with Sentinel Marine has a fixed duration of five years, commencing in July 2016, and also includes five one-year extension options.
Gunnar Breivik, managing director of Statoil Production UK, said: “This is an important contract award in our preparations for safe and efficient operations on Mariner.
“The emergency and rescue vessel plays a key role in our safety and emergency preparedness plan.
“We are pleased with the flexible and cost-effective solution Sentinel Marine is offering, and we are looking forward to working with them as a partner in the operational phase.
“Mariner Sentinel” will carry mechanical oil spill response equipment and contribute to a strengthening of the emergency preparedness capacity also on a regional basis.
The Mariner field, located about 93 miles east of Shetland, is currently under development, with production start-up planned for 2017. Hook-up and commissioning is expected to start in 2016.
Mariner Sentinel is expected to be delivered early in 2017. From the summer of 2016 and until the new vessel is ready for operation, Sentinel Marine will provide another ERRV for emergency cover.
Statoil is the operator of the Mariner field, with 65.11% equity. Co-venturers are JX Nippon Exploration and Production (UK) Limited (28.89%) and Dyas Mariner (6%).
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