Thanks for noticing my newfound Norwegian patriotic streak. I’m actually more of a Singapore patriot and very much a critic of some of the Norwegian foreign and domestic policies.
I AM very proud of what both Norway and Singapore have accomplished in Marine technology over the last 40 or more years. I don’t know if you have seen my posts in other threads, acknowledging the leading role Americans had in developing the base for what is today’s Offshore industry? I have been part of this industry for a long time and seen the changes as they happened.
I have NEVER said that Norway have all the equipment needed to conduct all operations. On the contrary, I have pointed out that the large SSCV and Pipelayers are dependent on being able to work worldwide, incl. in Norway, USA, Brasil, Australia etc., which they do.
In the years from 1980 to 1990 I worked some times in the North Sea. We appears to have been on some of the same vessels, but not at the same time. In 1981 I was Marine Adviser on LB 200. Also as MWS and/or Company Rep. on the Hermod, Balder and DB 102 (with Capt. John)
I have been working with Heerema on several projects, not only in the North Sea.
In 1989 I was Towmaster for Micoperi, working with what was then Micoperi 7000 (now Saipem 7000) while setting “world records” for both inshore lifting (Veslefrikk jacket; 9,800 m.t.) and offshore lifting (Gyda jacket; 8,500 m.t) Both records were quickly broken, however.
When Micoperi went bankrupt we were working on plans for doing an inshore lift of over 11,000 m.t. on DP. (Sleipner deck onto the concrete base in Gandsfjorden)
Yes, NMD put demands for DP3 for Dive Support Vessels at a very early stage, but there were no demand that they should be NOR flag.
It is a fact that there were few non-Norwegian owned DSVs to meet that requirement initially, but now there are several, with more under construction, as other shelf states put the same demand.
BTW; To have offices in Norway are not obligatory, but it helps if you are doing major work there.
