Page 22 - Danish Offshore Industry 2016

WHEN WAVES RUN HIGH From its very start World Marine Offshore met high waves, but it soon turned out that this was just the right environment for the shipping frm. When transporting crew to the offshore windfarms it is things World Marine Offshore had no contracts for work preferred to enjoy fair weather and quiet sea, but such when ordering its frst six vessels, so feeling safe and a scenario is seldom met when heading into the open secure was not the word of the day. sea offshore. That is why it is most relevant to consider how to solve the problems when the elements get a bit “Our type of vessels introduced a totally new technology, restless, and that is when World Marine Offshore enters so obviously we met with a number of challenges. We the picture. had a few sleepless nights when starting up, and the frst two years we had to fght for improving ourselves and “Our main job is to transport crew and cargo to and our equipment as we had to admit that not everything from the windfarms and between the individual turbines in our vessels worked out as it should. Another challenge on the site. We build our vessels for them to stay at sea was that we operated six vessels in four countries and and support for instance the accommodation ships and had six different clients. It was a hard time, but we suc- the platforms while our competitors return to harbor. At ceeded, and the latest two contracts being signed are counts to us is exploiting time to its maximum, and gen- a proof that the market approve of our way of doing erally we stake at a higher operational endurance and things. We have just signed a three-years contract with better access to the wind turbines than anybody else. We a German client with whom we had a one-year testing aim at being able to operate in wave heights of 2½-3 contract, so by now we are mobilizing the necessary meters, and that is for what we train our crews and de- confdence,” explains a content Lars Christian Zøhner, velop our equipment. The larger the turbines the more who in spite of the tough start-up at no time had to vulnerable they are to not producing, so therefore it is compromise. An attitude having provided World Marine important for us to be the frst ones heading for and the Offshore with a strong company culture. last ones returning from the windfarms. We do not mind working after dark, too, as our vessels are built with a “We strive towards constant improvement, and it is im- good view from the bridge and excellent illumination, portant that at all times we provide an excellent service. so darkness is no hindrance to us,” states Lars Christian It is much easier to take a commodity down from a shelf, Zøhner, CEO of World Marine Offshore, who from the but that is not our way of doing things, and that is why start has been involved in setting ambitions high. To the we do not build the same type of vessels as our competi- management of the shipping frm it was essential not tors. By them - roughly speaking –only the colour differs. just to follow in the wake of its competitors, but letting We focus on a high safety level and effciency at sea, and its experienced mariners add a little extra to the job. we do not really use rates as a competitive factor. But “We offer another way of doing things, and our concept of course we always have to fnd a competitive solution was to spot any new opportunity. We did not want to be as we have to make a living, but it is necessary for us to a taxi company, as such ones were there already, but we demonstrate to our clients that they get something extra are servicing the last 10% of the market where you work by contracting us.” under quite different conditions. We simply believe in being able to transfer personnel under worse conditions ON THEIR WAY TO THE UK than anybody else,” states Lars Christian Zøhner, who The fgures speak for themselves when concerning right away could see the company entering a storm. customers’ satisfaction. In 2014 World Marine Offshore transported 40,000 offshore crew members, and in 2015 TWO YEARS OF FIGHTING the fgure topped 60,000 men without a single accident. It turned out to be far from easy as high requirements to “That is a tangible volume, and we are proud to say that own capability made life really hard. And to complicate within two years we have transported 100,000 men with- 20 / WHEN WAVES RUN HIGH