Havila Shipping and DeepOcean have settled a financial disagreement after a subsea support vessel charter contract was terminated
A long-term charter contract for subsea vessel Havila Phoenix was terminated after DeepOcean sought protection under British law to wind up its UK-based activities in December 2020. That led to a breach of contractual obligations, including payment default, forcing Havila to terminate the charterparty on 11 December.
Havila subsequently requested payment from DeepOcean Group Holding in the Netherlands to fulfil the chartering company’s contractual obligations.
On 6 January 2021, Havila announced an agreement had been reached with DeepOcean for “full and final settlement between the parties”. This includes a cash settlement and acquisition of an A-frame, trencher and ROVs previously owned by DeepOcean.
Havila Phoenix was on long term charter to DeepOcean for a firm period until May 2023.
This agreement comes as Havila announced its deputy chief executive officer Olav Haug Vikebakk had resigned to take up another senior position in the region. Mr Vikebakk joined Havila in August 2018 after a 12-year career at Rolls-Royce Marine.
Also in Norway, Equinor has gained regulatory approval to continue using Island Offshore’s 2008-built Island Wellserver well intervention vessel in 2021. Petroleum Safety Authority Norway granted consent for the DNV GL-classed vessel to be used for light well intervention on fields in the Norwegian Sea, North Sea and Barents Sea. It has provided well intervention services for the state-backed energy group since 2009.
Meanwhile, anchor handlers have towed and installed Maersk Inspirer jack-up rig on the Yme oil field in the North Sea. This represents a third attempt to develop and produce oil and gas from the Yme field.
Repsol is the latest operator of Yme and will use Maersk Inspirer for drilling and production operations for at least five years. The Maersk Drilling rig was converted into a mobile production unit in the Aker Egersund yard and towed to site in December 2020.
The next phase of the development, according to Repsol’s partner OKEA, involves hook-up, commissioning and preparation for production. OKEA said oil production should begin later this year. This will be through wells drilled during previous attempts to produce oil from the field in 2009-2010.
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