Lloyds List: Shell in North Sea response deal: “SHELL Exploration & Production has negotiated an umbrella contract to cover its entire North Sea stand-by and emergency response service needs, writes Hugh O'Mahony.”: Wednesday Aug 10, 2005

SHELL Exploration & Production has negotiated an umbrella contract to cover its entire North Sea stand-by and emergency response service needs, writes Hugh O'Mahony.

The simplified arrangement, worth GBP180m ($321m) over five years to the newly formed European Rescue Alliance, covers support for all North Sea offshore installations, including those of North Sea partners, where Shell operates on behalf of Esso Exploration and Production UK, Norske Shell and Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij.

The contract led by North Star Shipping (Aberdeen), which has formed ERA with Lowestoft-based Boston Putford Offshore Safety, Norway's Sartor Shipping and Ireland's Seahorse, to meet Shell's needs.

Greg Hill, Shell Exploration ' Production director in Europe said: 'As part of Shell's move to a pan-European organisation we aimed to appoint a company to provide latest-generation vessels and consistent levels of standby support and emergency rescue services across all Shell's operations in the North Sea.'

North Star has committed five safety standby vessels to the deal for the Northern North Sea UK Continental Shelf: Grampian Sprite; Grampian Falcon; Grampian Venture; Grampian Prince; and Grampian Haven.

Boston Putford is committing four vessels for the Southern North Sea UK Shelf, while Sartor will provide two to cover the Norwegian sector.

Seahorse vessels will be deployed on an ad hoc basis off the coast of Ireland.

In the Dutch part of the North Sea, operations will be subcontracted to Vroon Offshore Services.

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