Collaboration 

strengthens 

the 

region

Subsea activity in Florø is budding. At the yard in the heart of Florø, they have more to do than they’ve had in a long time. An old saying goes, “when the yard is doing well, all of Florø is doing well,” and that’s probably true. High activity at Westcon Yards brings many regional ripple effects.

Cornerstone companies that complement each other

We are working on a framework agreement together with Westcon Yards. This strengthens our long-term collaboration and can help create an improved value proposition for key customers. We are cornerstone companies in Florø and complement each other well. At Fjord Base, we have a large area well suited for space-intensive operations. We also have long experience and strong competence in logistics and in the development and operation of infrastructure. Westcon, for its part, has rock-solid expertise in subsea equipment and prefabrication. Through this framework agreement, we will bring out the best in each other by leveraging our unique competencies. We’re going to achieve things we wouldn’t have managed alone.

“We’re seeing strong demand and increased activity in subsea fabrication. In that regard, we depend on more production space and available quayside. By collaborating with Fjord Base, we can weave together the best expertise in subsea mobilization, logistics, and fabrication so we can offer our customers an even more holistic concept. This is just the beginning!” — Ole Anders Smørdal, Head of Subsea and Fabrication, Westcon Yards Florø.

On the seabed for many decades

Initially, the framework agreement is tied to subsea activity. “We’re seeing more and more subsea work, which is connected to high activity in the North Sea. It’s hugely exciting, and something we’re glad to help each other with. When we collaborate well, the work becomes more efficient,” says Bjørn Erik Kringstad, Head of Sales, Marketing, and Communications.

Spools are long pipe sections installed on the seabed to connect structures and pipelines on the ocean floor. In general, subsea equipment sits on the bottom of oil and gas fields for many years, which naturally imposes strict requirements on production. The spools being built here now lay the groundwork for good collaboration on similar projects in the future.

Kudos to the five-minute region

A Fjord Base–Westcon collaboration isn’t entirely new—we’ve done it for many years, though more sporadically than now. This time, we’ve formalized the collaboration more clearly to remain competitive. We see a larger volume of activity, and we want to deliver strongly. At the same time, we face many of the same challenges. There’s no hiding that recruiting skilled professionals will be a bottleneck going forward. With a broader partnership, we can work together to find the best talent and attract them to Florø.

Our area is unique, and Florø’s “five-minute region” deserves more credit. Everything is close by—an airport almost in the town center and the seaway right next door. We’ve always had a culture of not resting on our laurels. We have to create our own jobs and ensure activity in the coastal city. The same goes for Westcon—and we both know how important good collaboration is for success.

“It’s fantastic to see all the activity at the yard these days—both this major subsea push and the long-term agreement with the Armed Forces. We hope the Florø community cheers us on when we go out to compete for large projects,” concludes Bjørn Erik with a smile.