Equinor awards DeepOcean work across North Sea and Barents Sea fields

Norwegian ocean services provider DeepOcean has secured a major subsea contract package from Equinor, covering extensive operations across the North Sea and Barents Sea. The project, scheduled for execution throughout 2027 and 2028, focuses on subsea infrastructure at the Visund and Johan Castberg fields. This significant award involves complex subsea intervention, inspection, and maintenance tasks, requiring specialized offshore support vessels to navigate the challenging Norwegian continental shelf environment while ensuring operational continuity for Equinor’s critical energy production assets.

These offshore operations must strictly adhere to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines regarding offshore support vessel safety, specifically referencing the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships (SPS Code). Furthermore, compliance with MARPOL Annex VI remains critical for vessels operating in the North Sea Emission Control Area, necessitating rigorous monitoring of sulfur oxide emissions. Classification society requirements, such as those set by DNV for dynamic positioning systems, are essential for maintaining operational certification and ensuring that all subsea intervention activities meet international safety standards for offshore personnel.

This contract expansion creates immediate opportunities for navigating officers and chief engineers experienced in dynamic positioning and subsea support operations. These professionals must ensure their STCW certification remains current, particularly regarding advanced DP training and offshore safety induction. Navigating officers should prepare for intensive station-keeping duties, while chief engineers must focus on the high-load power management required for subsea equipment deployment, ensuring all vessel systems remain fully compliant with the latest offshore industry safety protocols.