MOLDE, Norway, April 10, 2025 – In recent years, Axess Group has strengthened its regional footprint across the African continent with the opening of new offices in Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, and Côte d’Ivoire. The expansion marks an exciting milestone, enabling Axess to provide localised services to its growing client base.

Axess began operating in Africa in 2012 and established its regional headquarters in South Africa with the acquisition of Skysite Offshore in South Africa in 2014. Following successful contract awards, Axess established a presence in Angola and Ghana in 2016, and later opened an office in Senegal in 2022.

Alex Owen, General Manager – Africa at Axess Group, said, “We have experienced significant growth in the Africa region over the past 3 years, reflecting our ability to deliver innovative solutions to address our customers’ challenges. By leveraging our global footprint, we have been able to support both newbuild projects and exploration drillers operating in the region. In addition to establishing new entities, we have also increased operational activities in our existing entities, with Angola’s output nearly doubling in 2024. We look forward to continuing to provide world-class solutions to our clients in the Marine XII and Baleine fields, and more.”

Strategic expansion
Walvis Bay, Namibia: Since 2016, Axess has supported global customers with ad-hoc drilling operations in Namibia. Following significant offshore discoveries, the company established a presence in Namibia in late 2022, offering specialised services onshore and offshore. In 2024, Axess formalised its presence by opening a warehouse to support ongoing operations.

Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo: In 2023, Axess established an entity in the Republic of Congo to support a long-term client on the Marine XII field development project, helping to achieve first oil and gas within the planned timeframe.

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: Most recently, Axess expanded to Côte d’Ivoire, following a successful project relating to the Baleine field development. The project, initiated in Dubai in 2024 and completed offshore Côte d’Ivoire, contributed to the client’s success in achieving first oil and gas on schedule.

Leading these efforts are:

Namibia

• Christiaan Enslin – Regional Manager, South-West Africa
• Jaco Mouton – Operations Manager, Namibia

Republic of the Congo

• Christiaan Enslin – Regional Manager, South-West Africa
• Thomas Cloete – Operations Manager, Congo

Côte d’Ivoire

• Matthew Trichardt – Regional Manager, North-West Africa
• Anthony Le Grand – Operations Manager, Côte d’Ivoire

MOLDE, Norway, March 18, 2025 – Axess Group has secured a frame agreement for inspection services with TechnipFMC.

The scope of work encompasses inspection services related to the fabrication of pipelines at the Orkanger Spoolbase in Norway, including DJ, ML, OTI, WPQ, MTI, TTI, PIP pushing and Pipelay. These inspections are vital to ensuring that the pipes are structurally sound, perform reliably under harsh operating conditions throughout their expected lifespan, and comply with regulatory standards before installation. The work is managed and executed by the Quality Control (QC) department in Axess Group, which has a strong track record in quality assurance, safety and regulatory compliance.

“These pipes are key assets for field developments, and we take pride in contributing to safe and efficient operations in the Oil and Gas industry. We have supported the Orkanger Spoolbase since its inception, leveraging specialised local expertise in fabrication environments to maintain its operational excellence, ensure compliance with global standards, and enhance its competitiveness in the international market,” Robert Ingdal, Department Director – QC at Axess Group said.

In addition to the frame agreement, Axess has also signed a General Terms and Conditions (GTC) with TechnipFMC. This enables Axess to deliver services across all regions where TechnipFMC operates, fostering a collaborative approach to quality control and inspection services on a global scale. This agreement strengthens Axess Group’s position as a trusted partner, capable of providing seamless and consistent support wherever TechnipFMC requires expertise.

TechnipFMC is a leading technology provider to the traditional and new energies industry, delivering fully integrated projects, products, and services.

Header photo: © TechnipFMC

MOLDE, Norway, March 4, 2025 – Axess Group has won a long-term frame agreement with OSM Thome, a global maritime services company.

The agreement, built around Axess’ Total Rig Integrity Management (TRIM) solution designed to maximise value and uptime, covers work for Equinor’s FSU Heidrun B, operated by OSM Thome in Norway.

Specifically, the agreement covers potential services such as Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) programme for pressurised systems, PRV and PSV inspections, dropped object management, electrical and thermographic inspections, structural integrity management and inspections of crane and lifting gear. By consolidating tasks and using multi-skilled teams, Axess reduces the frequency of mobilisations, and the number of personnel mobilised each time.

Rune Jacobsen, Sales Director – AIM at Axess Group, said, “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with OSM Thome in the maritime industry. This partnership marks an exciting step forward as we bring our expertise to ensure safety and operational efficiency. We look forward to a productive and successful relationship, working closely with OSM Thome to deliver high-quality services and technical support in the months and years to come.”

OSM Thome is the result of a joint merger of two industry giants, OSM Maritime and Thome Group, in 2023, providing ship management, crew management and other marine services.

Header photo: © OSM Thome

MOLDE, Norway, February 25, 2025 – Axess Group has opened a new office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to expand its business in Asia. To date, Axess has a presence in 25 countries worldwide.

The entity will offer a comprehensive range of asset integrity management and engineering solutions to clients, leveraging the extensive local talent pool of skilled inspectors and engineers.

Ricardo Freire, VP – APME at Axess Group, said, “This strategic expansion allows us to strengthen relationships with existing FPSO clients while providing engineering solutions to energy companies. Additionally, it will enhance efficiency through near-sourcing by tapping into the local talent pool to support projects in both Malaysia and Singapore.”

Rajib Bhowmik, Regional Director – Asia, will be leading the entity.

“We have been operational in Malaysia since 2014. As Southeast Asia’s second-largest oil producer and the world’s third-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Malaysia offers significant potential. The country is home to both international and national oil companies, as well as major global Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firms and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) companies. With a mix of newly discovered oil fields and ageing brownfields, including over 300 offshore platforms, there are many opportunities for us to contribute our expertise,” Rajib Bhowmik, Regional Director – Asia at Axess Group said.

MOLDE, Norway, February 12, 2025 – Axess Group has secured an extension of the long-term frame agreement with Sporveien, Norway’s largest provider of public transport.

First signed in 2020, the agreement encompasses the inspection of 130 km of tram and metro tracks in Oslo and Akershus.

“We are delighted to continue supporting Sporveien in maintaining a safe, reliable, and efficient public transport system. The ongoing partnership reflects Axess Group’s commitment to enhancing public safety through innovative and precise inspection solutions,” Robert Ingdal, Department Director – QC at Axess Group said.

Sporveien is Norway’s largest provider of public transport measured in the number of journeys. In 2023, 256 million single journeys were made on Sporveien T-banen, Sporveien Trikken and Unibuss. Sporveien owns, develops and manages the infrastructure related to the metro and tram. The Group also has the overall responsibility for the operation of public transport.

Header photo: © Sporveien

MOLDE, Norway, February 4, 2025 – Axess Group has signed a Master Service Agreement (MSA) with Heerema Marine Contractors, a world-leading marine contractor.

Under the long-term agreement, Axess will provide comprehensive Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), Quality Control, and Welding Inspection services for Heerema’s offshore construction and maintenance projects worldwide, ensuring compliance with the highest HSE and quality standards. This includes the inspection and testing of welds, structural components, and other critical equipment.

“We are excited to partner with Heerema in supporting the highest standards of asset integrity, operational efficiency, and safety across their global operations. This collaboration marks an important milestone for Axess, further solidifying our position as a trusted and reliable global supplier to the offshore industry. We look forward to leveraging our expertise to drive continued success and long-term value for Heerema, as we work together to deliver innovative solutions and enhance performance across their assets,” Håvard Sletvold, Group Director – AIM at Axess Group said.

Heerema Marine Contractors, part of the Heerema companies, delivers comprehensive, innovative and sustainable solutions for the transportation, installation, and removal of offshore infrastructure.

Header photo: © Heerema

MOLDE, Norway, January 14, 2025 – Axess Group has secured significant contracts with two major Oil & Gas companies for guided wave ultrasonic testing.

These contracts are the culmination of extensive efforts by the Quality Control (QC) and In-Service Inspection (INSI) departments. The service is designed to provide clients with the insights necessary for assessing the remaining lifespan of critical equipment, including caissons, conductors and risers.

This technology empowers the Group to deliver a fully integrated solution for change-out projects, from comprehensive inspections to equipment replacements, further strengthening our capabilities within the Splash Zone segment.

“We believe in investing in technology and enhancing the competencies of our engineers to ensure that we meet the highest industry standards. The contracts are a testament to our commitment to innovation and continuous improvement,” Håvard Sletvold, Group Director – AIM at Axess Group said.

In 2024, Håvard was appointed to strengthen capabilities within AIM and foster global internal collaboration. This strategic initiative aims to enhance the Group’s ability to streamline operations for clients, thereby minimising complexity while maximising value and delivering a seamless experience.

MOLDE, Norway, December 5, 2024 – Axess Group has won a long-term frame agreement with Macro Offshore, a provider of high-end offshore accommodation vessels.

This agreement, built around Axess’ Total Rig Integrity Management (TRIM) solution, covers both onshore and offshore work for Macro Offshore’s accommodation vessels. It includes a comprehensive range of inspection, certification and verification services, aimed at maximising value and uptime.

Specifically, the scope of work encompasses periodic surveys of lifting appliances and lifting gear, dropped object management, and annual NDT of support structures. These deliverables are crucial to ensuring the safety of individuals residing onboard.

By consolidating tasks and using multi-skilled teams, Axess reduces the frequency of mobilisations and the number of personnel mobilised each time.

“This partnership allows us to bring our specialised services in inspection and falling object prevention to support Macro Offshore’s commitment to safety and operational reliability. We look forward to a strong and successful collaboration, delivering proactive solutions and dedicated support as we move forward together,” Rune Jacobsen, Sales Director – AIM at Axess Group said.

Header photo: © Macro Offshore

MOLDE, Norway, November 25, 2024 – Axess Group has secured a frame agreement extension with KCA Deutag, a leading drilling, engineering and technology company.

The extension will enable Axess to continue delivering services to seven platforms in Norway, and expand its portfolio by adding two more platforms, bringing the total to nine. The services include dropped object management, inspections of pipes, lifting and drilling equipment, as well as Risk-Based Inspection (RBI).

Rune Jacobsen, Sales Director – AIM at Axess Group, said, “We are delighted to continue working with KCA Deutag. The extension of the long-term frame agreement further solidifies our partnership in Norway, which began in 2017.”

Header photo: © KCA Deutag

MOLDE, Norway, November 13, 2024 – Axess Group has landed a long-term frame agreement with Floatel International, a provider of offshore accommodation vessels.

The agreement covers both onshore and offshore work for all of Floatel’s accommodation vessels.

It centers on Axess’ Total Rig Integrity Management (TRIM) solution, encompassing a full suite of inspection, certification and verification services. By challenging the traditional approach of utilising multiple suppliers for different scopes per rig, Axess will initiate and suggest streamlined operations, leading to minimised carbon footprint and cost savings for Floatel.

The main deliverables include periodic surveys of fixed and loose lifting equipment, dropped object management, as well as Non-Destructive Testing (NDT).

Kjartan Helle, Regional Manager – AIM at Axess Group, said, “We look forward to a fruitful collaboration with Floatel and are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring. Our commitment is to provide Floatel with increased predictability in both cost and execution.”

Established in 2006, Floatel International provides reliable and high-performance floatels designed for deep waters and hostile environments all around the world.

Header photo: © Floatel International

MOLDE, Norway, November 5, 2024 – Axess Group completed the installation and commissioning work for the first FLNG project in the Republic of the Congo earlier this year.

The scope of work included mooring and hookup operations, complex rigging activities and electrical completions on the FLNG and FSU. The project commenced at the shipyard in Dubai, UAE, and concluded in the Republic of the Congo, spanning a total of 9 months. Subsequently, Axess also supported the client with completion works on its onshore gas pre-treatment plant.

“We are happy to be involved in such a significant LNG project. Our global footprint has been crucial in ensuring the success of the project. Over 140 qualified personnel were deployed from various entities within the Group, including Axess UK, Axess India and Axess Norway. We look forward to continuing our partnerships with the client,” Christiaan Enslin, Regional Manager – Southwest Africa at Axess Group said.

Since 2016, Axess Group has been supporting the client on several other projects in countries including Angola, Ghana and Mexico.

MOLDE, Norway, October 22, 2024 – Axess Group has secured a frame agreement extension with Seadrill, a leading offshore drilling contractor.

First signed in 2015, this extended agreement reinforces the strong partnership between the two companies. Axess will continue to deliver its comprehensive Total Rig Integrity Management (TRIM) solution, which encompasses a full suite of inspection, certification, and verification services designed to ensure the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency across Seadrill’s fleet in Europe.

The main deliverables include inspections of lifting equipment, derrick and drilling equipment, DROPS, RBI, PRV and instrument calibration, as well as inspections of all personnel lifting equipment.

“We are excited to continue our collaboration with Seadrill and to support their operations with our industry-leading TRIM solution. This extension is a testament to the trust and confidence Seadrill has in our capabilities,” Rune Jacobsen, Sales Director – AIM at Axess Group said.

Seadrill has a versatile fleet that includes drillships, jack-ups and semi-submersibles, fit for shallow to ultra-deepwater areas, in both harsh and benign environments.

Header photo: © Seadrill

MOLDE, Norway, October 9, 2024 – Axess Group has signed two long-term frame agreements with Moreld Apply, a leading multi-discipline engineering company.

This agreement will see Axess provide its industry-leading asset integrity management solutions, while Axess Technologies will deliver engineering solutions, both supporting Moreld Apply’s wide range of projects, ensuring the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and operational excellence.

Rune Jacobsen, Sales Director – AIM at Axess Group, said, “We are excited to collaborate with Moreld Apply and contribute to their innovative engineering solutions. This long-term agreement represents a significant opportunity for Axess Group to further our mission of supporting safe and efficient operations in the Oil and Gas industry.”

Headquartered in Stavanger, Norway, Moreld Apply specialises in contracts across all project phases – from concept development and studies to completion and commissioning.

MOLDE, Norway, September 18, 2024 – Axess Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nearthlab, a leading provider of autonomous drone solutions, to expand its drone inspection capabilities.

Since 2017, Axess has been performing drone inspections for various assets, including tanks, bridges, platforms, and vessels. In 2024, Axess became the first DNV-approved company in Norway for the use of remote inspection techniques.

Under the MoU, Axess Group will deploy Nearthlab’s drones to conduct inspections across both onshore and offshore wind farms in Scandinavia and Africa, with inspection data managed through Nearthlab’s cloud-based analytics platform, Zoomable.

Håvard Sletvold, Group Director – AIM at Axess Group, said, “This partnership is a testament to our commitment to using the latest technology. From our experience, using drones for inspections has proven to improve efficiency and accuracy while also enhancing safety and lowering manpower requirements. By adding autonomous drones to our equipment portfolio, we are further advancing our capabilities, offering even greater precision and operational effectiveness.”

Jay Choi, CEO and co-founder of Nearthlab, said, “Efficient inspections are crucial for maintaining wind turbines that endure significant fatigue loads. Through this partnership, our drones will be able to help numerous wind farms operate at their peak efficiency.”

Nearthlab has been redefining drone solutions since 2015, pushing practical boundaries beyond conventional standards. By enabling faster, safer, and more cost-effective inspections with proprietary AI drones, Nearthlab shortens inspection time to 15 minutes, helping wind farm operators maximise the efficiency and longevity of their assets.

Header photo: © Nearthlab

MOLDE, Norway, February 21, 2024 – Axess Group and Guyana Logistics and Support Services Inc. (GLASS) have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement to establish Axess Glass Inc., the largest Engineering and Asset Integrity Management (AIM) company in Guyana.

Since Axess expanded its operations to Guyana in 2021, the entity has provided design, inspection, maintenance, certification, modification, engineering, and installation services of equipment on offshore and onshore installations. This encompasses cranes, lifting appliances, piping, structures, drilling and subsea equipment, and other related equipment, catering to all major energy and service companies.

Guyana Logistics & Support Services Inc. has been operating in Guyana since 2011 as a service provider to international third-party clients, who have required services related to International and Domestic Logistics, Manpower Recruitment, Construction, Transportation and Warehouse Storage facilities. GLASS has worked with the Oil and Gas industry over the years to tap into every service offered that their team can benefit from. As an ISO-certified company, this certification has allowed GLASS to be aware of how the oil and gas industry works, bid for and win projects in the sector, and use the skills learnt to successfully complete projects in other industries.

The JV is part of Axess’ local content development strategy, to broaden its talent pool and contribute to the economic growth of the countries where it operates.

Matthew Stanley, ExxonMobil Global Account Manager at Axess Group, said, “With an increase in oil discoveries in Guyana in recent years, we anticipate more opportunities to deliver our full suite of solutions to clients. We are happy to build on the successful cooperation between the two companies since 2021. This joint venture combines Axess’ decades-long experience in the energy industry, and GLASS’ local knowledge and expertise, enabling us to meet the needs of the expanding market as a full-service organisation.”

Glenn Low-A-Chee, the Managing Director of GLASS, said, “Since opening its doors more than a decade ago as one of the first logistics service providers in the country, GLASS has transformed to become a household name while delivering a myriad of services to the country’s burgeoning oil and gas industry.”

Daniel Patton, Canadian Director of GLASS, said, “Under this JV arrangement we look forward to combining our expertise and knowledge with Axess’ decades-long experience in the energy industry, allowing both companies to benefit from the growing opportunities in the market as a full-service organisation.”

In late 2022, Axess Baffin Inc., a member of Energy NL, joined its trade mission to Guyana, which aimed to widen trade partnerships between Canada and Guyana. Through this opportunity which involved parties such as the High Commission of Canada to Guyana, the Provincial Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, and the Guyanese Government, Axess entered into an agreement with GLASS, to leverage the two companies’ expertise.

Header photo:
Top row (left to right): Troy Singh (Operations Manager and Director – GLASS Inc.), Kevin Foo (Project Manager – Axess Guyana Inc.), Christopher Walker (Country Manager – Axess Guyana Inc.), Danny Paton (Director – GLASS Inc.), Matthew Stanley (ExxonMobil Global Account Manager – Axess Group), Jake Thomas (Counsellor and Senior Trade Commissioner at the High Commission of Canada)

Bottom row (left to right): Charissa Cheong (Director – GLASS Inc.), Glenn Low-a-Chee (Managing Director – GLASS Inc.), Dr. Martin Pertab (Director – Local Content Secretariat), H.E. Mark Kevin Berman (Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana), Mahidhar Kumar (Operations Manager – Axess Guyana Inc.), Pamela Binda (Office Manager – Axess Guyana Inc.)

MOLDE, Norway, December 7, 2023 – Axess Group has signed another frame agreement extension with a global wind energy company.

The frame agreement encompasses the provision of inspection and maintenance services to its onshore wind farms located in Northern and Central Europe. This includes a wide range of scopes aimed at ensuring the functionality, safety and overall performance of the wind turbines. It involves inspecting and maintaining vital components such as safety and lifting equipment, anchor points and fire suppression equipment.

Julia Winkler, Business Development Manager – Renewables at Axess Group, said, “The client is a leading player in the wind industry and we are thrilled to continue the successful partnership since 2018. In 2023 alone, we inspected over 400 wind turbine generators. This milestone is significant for us and reflects our commitment to support our partner in delivering best-in-class wind energy solutions.”

MOLDE, Norway, November 21, 2023 – Collaboration between Axess North America and an American multinational energy corporation has paved the way for an expanded partnership that now includes Axess Australia.

Since the Master Services Agreement (MSA) was signed in 2021, Axess Group has carried out crane audit services around the globe to provide assurance to the client’s project teams.

Looking ahead, Axess Australia is set to contribute its specialised expertise in lifting engineering services, including the preparation and review of lifting plans, delivery of complex lifting engineering solutions and lifting consultancy services.

The strategic diversification of the partnership’s scope is aligned with the evolving needs of the client.

Ruano Stumpf, Regional Manager – Oceania at Axess Group, said, “Axess has established itself as a specialist supplier of complex lifting operations in the Oceania market. Clients have engaged us to review and ensure that their lifting operations are carried out safely and efficiently. Additionally, we are entrusted to deliver full turnkey projects, from the planning and engineering phases to the execution on site.”

MOLDE, Norway, November 9, 2023 – Axess Group has secured multiple contracts with several developers and tier 1 clients for an offshore wind farm that is under construction in the United States (US).

These involve quality assurance and quality control inspections of wind turbine components for the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), vessel maintenance, US regulatory compliance, statutory inspections and crane inspections. These are essential for maintaining safety, optimising performance and complying with regulations.

Additionally, Axess is also delivering compliance services and vessel inspections using eCMID (Common Marine Inspection Document), which is not a common service offered in the US. This ensures that the vessels are compliant before being chartered to install the wind turbines.

Thomas Lynch, Managing Director – Boston at Axess Group, said, “We are excited to provide these needed services to our clients in the emerging US offshore wind industry. We have built an extremely talented and experienced team here that can provide value-added solutions to operators and developers.”

MOLDE, Norway, October 3, 2023 – Axess Group has secured numerous contracts within the offshore wind market in the United States (US), including a fabric maintenance contract for the first operating offshore wind farm in the country.

Fabric maintenance is essential for wind turbines to operate efficiently, safely, and reliably amidst challenging offshore conditions. Regular maintenance prevents deterioration, optimizes performance, and prolongs the lifespan of the turbines.

This contract is managed by Axess’ Boston office, which was established in 2022 to capitalize on the growing offshore wind sector in the East Coast, in line with the Group’s strategy. The operations will be carried out by Praxis*, marking its inaugural entry into the offshore wind market, following successful collaborations with major clients in the energy and chemical sectors. This demonstrates Axess Group’s collaborative efforts on a global scale, transcending the boundaries of business segments and geographic regions.

Thomas Lynch, Managing Director – Boston at Axess Group, said, “With a diverse array of scopes secured within a remarkably brief timeframe, this stands as a significant milestone for the Group. Since 2018, we have executed over 150 onshore and offshore wind projects in Europe, Asia and the US, and our portfolio continues to grow.  We are proud to provide needed asset maintenance to the leading developer of offshore wind energy in the world.”

* Praxis is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Axess Group and is a specialist company in all aspects of surface treatments and integrity.

MOLDE, Norway, September 5, 2023 – Axess Group is strengthening its presence in Taiwan with Michael Wang as the new General Manager. With over a decade of experience in offshore wind development in Taiwan, Michael has a deep understanding of the local landscape and a demonstrated record of accomplishments. These qualities make him the ideal candidate to spearhead the company’s endeavours in the region.

Michael’s leadership will further elevate efforts to serve the wind industry with solutions such as asset integrity management, material handling, BOP inspections and QA/QC inspections. In addition, the entity will supply products such as winches and custom lifting equipment.

Michael Wang, General Manager – Taiwan at Axess Group, said, “Taiwan’s energy market is rapidly changing and it is one of the leading offshore wind markets outside Europe. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring my expertise and experiences gained over the years to the team, fostering mutual growth and success in the region.”

Fergus Murray, Vice President – APME at Axess Group, said “We are really pleased to have Michael on the team. His extensive experience with offshore wind developers will complement our growing renewables team within the region. Michael’s leadership will play a pivotal role in our expansion efforts in Taiwan and East Asia, which is in line with our sustainable energy strategy. I wish him all the best in the new role.”

MOLDE, Norway, August 8, 2023 – Axess Senegal S.A.S.U. has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with Gainde Marine Offshore, to establish Axess Gainde SN JV SAS (AGSAS).

As the leading global provider of integrity and engineering solutions to the energy industry, Axess expanded its operations to Senegal in 2022, to better serve existing clients and forge new partnerships. Forming a JV with a local Senegalese company will allow Axess Senegal to meet the needs of the expanding market.

Combining Axess’ decades-long experience in the energy industry, and Gainde Marine Offshore’s local knowledge and expertise, the new entity will be focused on servicing the offshore Oil and Gas market in the MSGBC region.

Neil Holtshausen, BD Manager – Senegal at Axess Group, said, “Local content development is of great importance to us as it further diversifies our talent pool and contributes to the economic growth of the countries we are present in. By forging strategic partnerships with local companies, we aim to improve onsite training, enhance skillsets, and drive innovation in the creation of new products and services. This collaborative approach empowers us to deliver tailored services that cater to our clients’ needs while simultaneously cultivating career pathways for local personnel.”

Established in 2022, Gainde Marine Offshore is an integrated marine services provider, providing services including vessel chartering and brokerage, customs clearances, personnel logistics, and storage, to international clients.

Jules Y. Diop, Co-Founder and President of Gainde Marine Offshore, said, “Senegalese oil and gas is a young sector but the attractiveness of the country for business is evident. We have a strong, stable political scene and have never experienced war. Gainde Marine offers a no-fret solution for fresh and established players in the country’s emerging mega-industry.”

MOLDE, Norway, June 8, 2023 – Axess Group has secured a long-term contract with Nordex, one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers.

The contract involves the provision of statutory inspection services on wind turbine generators at the Midtfjellet and Øyfjellet wind farms in Norway, which have been installed and maintained by Nordex. While ensuring safe and efficient operations, Axess is also contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions and the shift towards a low-carbon economy.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to strengthen our partnership with Nordex. This contract is in line with our aspiration to broaden our activities within the renewable energy sector. We are committed to providing high-quality services to help our partners maximise the lifespan of their wind turbine generators,” Rune Jacobsen, Sales Director, AIM at Axess Group said.

The Midtfjellet Wind Park contains 55 wind turbines, which collectively produce around 433.7 GWh annually, sufficient energy for all of Sunnhordland. The Øyfjellet Wind Park is the biggest wind farm in Norway, with 72 turbines producing approximately 1,320 GWh annually, enough energy for 73% of those who live in Nordland.

Mark McCloat, Director of Service – Nordic Region and MD of Norway at Nordex Group, said, ”Safety of our colleagues is the number one priority for Nordex Group and Nordex Norway AS are happy to continue the partnership with Axess Group by entrusting them with the responsibility for statutory inspection of the safety equipment on the Midtfjellet and Oyfjellet windfarms for the coming years. Axess have shown their competency through the competitive tender process and having a local Norwegian supplier for these, and other services are of great benefit to Nordex Norway AS and the wind industry in Norway.”

Founded in 1985, Nordex Group is one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, offering highly-efficient and competitive wind turbine systems, enabling long-term economical power generation from wind energy in all geographical and climatic conditions.

MOLDE, Norway, December 20, 2022 – Axess Group is expanding its global footprint with the opening of a new office in Dakar, Senegal. Axess is now operating in 18 countries worldwide.

The entity will offer a broad range of integrity and engineering services to clients in the Oil & Gas and renewable energy markets.

Neil Holtshausen, Business Development Manager, has been appointed to spearhead the development of the entity, and to increase the Group’s presence in Africa.

“I am excited to be a part of this new venture for the Axess Group. Senegal offers huge opportunities in the Oil & Gas, renewable energy and industrial markets. This new development is sure to be of great benefit to Senegal’s economy.  We are thrilled to be able to continue our global partnerships with current clients and work with new clients,” Neil said.

Maarten Turkstra, Vice President of Africa at Axess Group said, “We are happy to continue our expansion plan by following our customers into new markets. I believe that we will be an appealing partner by bringing our global know-how and adding local Senegalese flavour through partnerships, training and investment. I am confident that Neil will grow and expand our service offering in Senegal.”

MOLDE, Norway, November 15, 2022 – Axess Group opened a new office in Boston, Massachusetts, to gain a foothold in the offshore wind market in Northeastern United States. This is the company’s second office in the country, with the first being in Houston, Texas.

The Northeastern states have immense renewable energy potential, especially in offshore wind. For example, offshore wind is expected to become the largest source of clean energy for the region. The Boston office will offer a broad range of integrity management and engineering services to the emerging offshore wind market.

Barry Holtzman, Country Manager of USA at Axess Group, said: “The wind initiative in the United States represents $28 – $57 billion in investments over this decade, and this development could create up to 83,000 new jobs by 2030. We see an opportunity to carry over our vast experience in Oil & Gas to the emerging offshore wind industry here. Opening the office in this strategic location will enable us to diversify our business portfolio in line with the Group’s strategy.”

Since Axess has extensive experience in Oil & Gas, and Renewables in more recent years, the company is well-positioned to succeed in this emerging market. Thomas Lynch, Director of Offshore Wind Business Development, will be leading the entity and reporting to the Country Manager of USA.

“We are delighted that Tom has joined Axess. He has been instrumental in getting the company off to a strong start, utilizing his technical and relationship skills with many of the major operators and service providers, to prepare for large-scale windfarms that could produce at least 30 GW of power by 2030,” Barry added.

Prior to joining Axess, Thomas was with Eversource Energy, New England’s largest energy provider, where he was responsible for the grid integration of renewable energy. Before that, he worked in the maritime industry for 10 years.

SINGAPORE, October 4, 2022 – Axess Group has secured two contracts for Equinor’s Bacalhau FPSO, which will be one of the largest FPSOs ever delivered to Brazil.

The contract awarded by MODEC includes the design review and certification of lifting appliances of the hull and select modules in China. The scope follows the applicable standards and will be delivered in full compliance with Brazilian Regulatory Standards/Normas Regulamentadoras (NRs).

At the same time, Axess was also awarded a similar service contract by Aibel’s fabrication yard in Laem Chabang, Thailand, for the vessel’s topside modules built there. The company will provide engineering review, inspection, testing and certification of lifting appliances, to ensure statutory compliance and delivery to region-specific standards.

“Thanks to the good collaboration with the MODEC team in Singapore and China, as well as the continued support by Aibel’s team in Thailand, the site inspections are being performed seamlessly under standardised processes and requirements,” Ricardo Freire, Operations Director of APME at Axess Group said.

Rod Matzdorff, Client Manager at Axess Group, said, “We are happy to be recognised for our expertise in inspections, certifications and compliance. With this project, we look forward to further developing the good working relationships we have with both MODEC and Aibel.”

The Bacalhau FPSO, with a production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day, will be deployed at the Bacalhau field in the pre-salt region of the Santos Basin offshore Brazil.

Header photo by Equinor, end-client and operator of the FPSO

MOLDE, Norway, September 27, 2022 – Axess Group has announced the opening of a new office in Taipei, to focus on the booming offshore wind market in the region. To date, Axess operates in 17 countries worldwide.

The entity will offer a broad range of integrity and engineering services to clients in offshore wind, across all phases – FEED, Construction, Commissioning & Installation and Operations & Maintenance. The services include Cable Pull-In and Termination & Testing, integrated Balance of Plant (BoP) services and offshore substation compliance studies.

Rod Matzdorff, Regional Manager for East Asia, will add the Taipei office to his existing regional portfolio including South Korea.

“Taiwan is a leader in renewables within Asia Pacific and globally. Their dynamism and drive towards sustainable, clean energy resonates with our own ambitions. We see this as an opportunity to play an even larger role in the renewable energy transition and grow our presence in this market of the future,” Rod said.

Fergus Murray, Vice President of Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) at Axess Group said, “We are very excited to extend our presence to Taiwan and for Rod to take up this position in Taipei. As a Group, we have set the goal of ensuring 20% of our global revenues come from renewables by 2024, this new office is a step in the right direction to achieve this and one we are looking to capitalise on.”

Axess Group has signed a global inspection contract with the offshore driller COSL Drilling Europe. The duration of the contract is five years (2020-2025) and makes Axess as their preferred partner for inspection services worldwide.

The contract comes as a result of a long-standing collaboration and partnership between Axess and COSL Drilling Europe. The relationship has been expanding throughout the years and grown with our global footprint, with local establishments in all areas where COSL Drilling Europe is operating.

The contract encompasses inspection services for pressurised systems, drilling and lifting equipment, elevators, NDT inspections and rope access services.

Knut Stefanussen, Axess Group’s Chief Commercial Offer, said: “We are very happy to formalise our good cooperation with COSL Drilling Europe and their excellent team. We will keep up our joint effort assisting by increasing uptime for their whole drilling assets portfolio.”

Axess Africa has successfully completed a crane recertification programme on one of the vessels of an International FPSO operator offshore West Africa.

The client commissioned Axess to conduct an initial survey of the cranes on their three FPSO vessels offshore West Africa to ensure they meet the standards and requirements set by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

After the initial survey and planning, Axess mobilised an experienced multi-skilled inspection team from Axess Africa to follow up on remedial recommendations. Led by senior crane engineers from ALPA, Axess’ material handling subsidiary, the skilled team set about replacing the luffing rams and winches along with other mechanical, electrical and hydraulic upgrades as the project progressed.

Despite mobilisation challenges due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, the two main cranes aboard the FPSO have been upgraded, repaired and certified to ABS Class requirements. Ensuring the cranes remain to Class standard, whereby they are safe for use and are reliable assets to the client, is a major milestone for the African entity. Furthermore, additional improvements will be implemented by 2021 to boost the cranes’ capability & reliability.

Tyrone Tilley, Project Manager at Axess Africa, said: “As a joint operation between Axess Africa and ALPA, the project has been successfully executed and a template for cooperation between divisions within Axess. Engineering, heavy lift rigging, crane survey techniques including NDT inspections and project management were all employed across divisions to deliver a successful key milestone in the crane recertification programme, leaving us with a satisfied client.”

For more information on what Axess can do for your cranes or company, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Axess Group has entered a significant frame agreement with the Norwegian counties Trøndelag and Møre & Romsdal to provide Remotely Piloted Aerial System (RPAS) services for bridges and road constructions in these regions in Norway.

The four-year contract (2+1+1) will see Axess conduct planning, drone operations and data acquisition on infrastructures related to the national road and railway system. Axess’ QC department will manage the project from our Orkanger office.

The two counties are responsible for more than 2200 bridges where an increased number of bridges are being inspected via aerial solutions. This technology is a cost-effective way to achieve a high level of structural integrity.

Kristian Nelvik, Business Development Manager at Axess QC, commented: “We are very pleased that our investments in training, certification, approvals and equipment within the RPAS technologies are resulting in a long-term contract, enabling us to continue our development within this field. We consider this to be an important area for inspection and integrity services in the future, both for onshore and offshore installations.”

To find out more about the project, contact us at [email protected].

Axess Group has secured a contract extension from Wintershall DEA, which covers the provision of lifting equipment and integrity services.

The agreement, which was originally awarded to Axess’ Asset Integrity Management (AIM) department in 2016, is extended by two years.

Under the agreement, Axess will deliver support to Wintershall DEA’s offshore assets in Norway, covering a broad spectrum of Enterprise of Competence (EoC) services for cranes and lifting equipment, inspection and maintenance. The contract will see integrated services from Axess’ AIM, Engineering, Alpa and Digital department.

Wintershall DEA is a global exploration and production company with operations in Europe, North Africa, South America, Middle East, as well as Russia.

Andreas Sæter, Department Director AIM at Axess, said: “We are happy to have secured this extension with Wintershall DEA, and are looking forward to the continued cooperation.”

The COVID-19 virus has affected many businesses, including Axess Group. While its impact is beyond anyone’s control, we are taking all the necessary measures needed to manage our business operations in the safest manner.

The safety and welfare of our employees, clients, and contractors remain our absolute highest priority as we activate our business continuity plans.

Here are the actions we have taken to ensure the health and safety of our global workforce and contribute to the global efforts in containing and slowing the pandemic:

1. Ensured full compliance with the government and health authorities

We closely monitor the World Health Organization (WHO)’s updates and strictly follow the directives of our local and national public health guidelines.

2. Rolled out travel restrictions policy

All business trips are restricted and personal travels are discouraged for the time being. Any employee who has recently traveled by plane or has been offshore will work remotely for 14 days.

3. Implemented alternative work arrangements

Employees worldwide are encouraged to work from home where feasible or given flexible working hours to prevent workplace transmission.

4. Maintained excellent communication with clients and staff

Prevention control measures are continuously communicated with employees, such as, practicing personal hygiene, social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings. Meanwhile, proactive correspondence with our clients, either by phone calls, emails, and video conferencing, is of the utmost importance to avoid any potential disruption to their business.

5. Donated personal protective equipment to hospitals

With a significant shortage of necessary protective gear, our office in Molde, Norway, has donated their own dust mask supply to their local health system, to support the government’s efforts in combatting the virus.

In these unprecedented times, we are working hard to provide uninterrupted service to our customers while prioritising the safety and well-being of our workforce.

We are fully committed to assisting the legislative and health officials in preventing the spread of the pandemic and will continue to update our actions to help curb this global crisis.

For latest information about our projects and global operations, please contact your local Axess office.

Axess Group has entered a significant frame agreement with Sporveien AS to provide inspection services for the railway and tram tracks operated by them in Norway.

The four-year contract will see Axess conduct inspection planning, NDT and condition reporting on infrastructures related to subways and trams. Axess’ QC department will manage the project by utilising multi-skilled engineering teams in Oslo and streamlining the services with digital solutions.

State-owned company Sporveien AS is Norway’s largest public transport operator. It is responsible for the trackage and maintenance of the metro and tramway system of Oslo, as well as city buses in several regions, with 275 million single trips completed in 2018.

Kristian Nelvik, Business Development Manager at Axess QC, commented: “We are very pleased to have been chosen to ensure the safety and reliability of Sporveien`s rail infrastructure system. This award strengthens our position in the region and builds our competence in the infrastructure segment. It also lays the foundation for long-term collaborative relationship with Sporveien AS and its subsidiaries.”

To find out more about the project, contact us at [email protected]. 

Axess Africa has been certified as a “Recognised External Specialist” by ABS for Non-Destructive Examination services on 3 March 2020. This follows the entity’s recently acquired ISO 9001 accreditation.

The approval allows equipment manufacturers, vessel and asset owners, and rig managers to invite Axess to carry out surveys such as Ultrasonic Testing, Penetrant Testing, Magnetic Particle Testing, and Eddy Current Inspection. Appointing Axess to provide these services minimises workplace risks, reduces shutdown time and inspection costs and improves the integrity of assets.

ABS is one of the world’s leading classification organisations that sets standards for safety and excellence in the marine and offshore industries.

Read more about our Non-Destructive Examination services here.

Axess Group has secured a three-year frame agreement extension with VESTAS to deliver inspection services for their wind farms operated in Norway. The agreement also covers initial inspections during construction phase for Sweden, Denmark and Finland.  With a rapid growth of wind farms in Norway and the Scandinavian countries, Axess sees this an important step to diversify its business into other segments.

 The extension is in direct continuation to its initial two-year Enterprise of Competence (EOC) contract period, whereby Axess will continue to provide annual inspection and certification of service lifts and lifting equipment.

“We look forward to developing our relationship with Vestas and have faith that Vestas will continue to gain market share in the region,” said Eirik Nøtsund BD Manager at Axess.

Axess Group has, in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), participated in the DeepWind Conference 2020 with a poster presentation concerning the wake meandering phenomena on wind turbine generators (WTG).

The study applied a mid-fidelity software to simulate the wake effects on the Hywind Tampen field, in order to predict the wind farm’s estimated Annual Energy Production (AEP) with wake meandering taken into account. Wake meandering aggravates fatigue loads on turbines and decreases power production, making it an undesirable effect that needs to be minimised by aerodynamic optimisation in turbine layout. An alternative configuration was made with a pragmatic approach to illustrate the decrease in wake effect for certain wind directions.

Axess was represented by Mr. Endre Tenggren, who co-authored the study as part of his BSc study in wind energy. Endre is now an important member of the Axess Renewables Department working out of Trondheim, Norway.

“Our involvement in the present study with NTNU helps support develop of the industry as well as our capabilities as a service provider, and we want to thank the NTNU team for their dedication to carry this through” says Christian Nerland, Director of Renewables in Axess Group.

The three-day business conference held on 15-17 January 2020 was organised by the European Energy Research Alliance to support the development of offshore wind energy.

For further details about our capabilities within the Renewables sector, please contact us at [email protected].

Once again, Axess is honoured to have been nominated for Rystad Energy’s Gullkronen Award 2020 in the Globetrotter of the Year category for the second year in a row.

This category acknowledges excellence in the field of Oil Service. A truly notable oilfield services provider is one that offers utmost safety, optimal solutions, cost-efficient, and streamlined support to customers’ operations across different oil and energy hubs worldwide.

Axess’ long-standing partnership with major international E&P players and the establishment of three new offices in Mexico, Australia, and UAE — in the past year were some of the key factors for this impressive accomplishment.

“We are proud to be nominated and this is a recognition of our successful international venture to 14 different countries and the business success of the Axess Group,” says Knut Stefanussen, Chief Commercial Officer of Axess Group.

Jarand Rystad, CEO of Rystad Energy, said: “The nominated companies are the most inspirational, successful and dynamic in the Norwegian energy space.”

He continued: “They drive the Norwegian energy business and create jobs. The nominees are benchmarks of success for the rest of the Norwegian industry.”

Every year, Gullkronen recognises companies and people in the oil and energy industries who have demonstrated outstanding achievements on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) during the previous year. The awards will culminate on 28 January 2020 at Wallmans Oslo.

Visit Rystad Energy’s website for more information.

Axess Group is pleased to announce the opening of its new office in Perth, Axess Offshore Australia Pty Ltd, to support its current operational contract awards in the region.

Ruano Stumpf, former Project Manager at Axess Offshore Singapore, has made the move to the region and is now standing in as the Regional Manager – Oceania.

“We have plans to build a sustainable company in Australia based on 4 pillars: high quality, HSE, innovation and long-term partnerships. This is how we built successful branches in 14 different countries and Australia will be no different. The recent discoveries and development plans for the offshore industry has made Australia a priority for us, as we feel we can assist our partners with engineering solutions from the planning stages up to the daily operations support we are known for globally,” said Stumpf.

Fergus Murray, Vice President of the APAC region, commented: “The new base will enable us to provide a wide range of inspection and engineering support for our current operations in the region and open the door to new clients. We are confident Australia will provide a solid revenue stream for the years to come.”

Contact us to learn more about how Axess Group can meet your asset integrity and engineering needs in the Oceania region.

Cover Photo: “Perth” by Pedro Szekely is licensed under CC BY 2.0

We are proud to announce our nomination for Rystad Energy’s Gullkronen Award 2019 in the Globetrotter of the Year category.

Now on its 11^th year, Rystad Energy’s Gullkronen awards companies in the oil and gas industries who have demonstrated outstanding achievements on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) during the previous year.

Our work across the NCS and with the major international E&P players has been a key part of this nomination and confirm us as one of the many successful Norwegian companies that have supported our client’s global operations.

The 11th Gullkronen awards will be presented on 6 February 2019 at Wallmans Oslo. Nine prizes will be awarded – Four for E&P achievements, three for the Oil Service sector, a Green Award and an “Honour Award”.

Axess Group has signed a long-term contract with Vår Energi to provide Lifting and Material Handling EoC Control for all its assets in the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

Under the terms of the agreement, Axess will provide Enterprise of Competence (EoC) activities, control of lifting and rigging plans, maintenance activities related to cranes and lifting equipment, supply of lifting equipment and spare parts. The contract is valid for all of Vår Energi’s business, including Goliat, Ringhorne, Balder and Jotun fields offshore Norway.

Knut Stefanussen, Chief Commercial Officer of Axess Group, said, “We are extremely satisfied to be awarded this significant contract as this has been in our spotlight for years. This contract draws on our digital and software solutions, personnel expertise, strong local presence, and experience.  We are excited to contribute to Vår Energi’s HSE goals and to be a key partner in their ambitious growth plans.”

Vår Energi AS is a new leading, independent E&P company on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) and the result of the merger of Point Resources AS and Eni Norge AS in late 2018. Vår Energi is jointly owned by Italy based energy company Eni (69.6 percent) and Norway based leading private equity investor HitecVision (30.4 percent).

Axess Group is a global provider of asset integrity solutions and engineering services and products to the offshore, maritime and energy industries. Founded in 1998 in Molde, Norway, Axess Group has developed global presence with offices in 12 different countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia. Axess has been an important partner on over 400 offshore installations globally.

Bane NOR, state-owned Norwegian railway infrastructure agency, has awarded Quality Control (QC) contract to Axess Group for the new railway double track to be built between Venjar and Langset in Eidsvoll, Norway.

Axess QC will represent Bane NOR in ensuring the quality of the design, fabrication, and assembly of steel, welding, and coating for the entire project development. Some of the key work scopes include client representation and inspections on site, supervision of Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) testing, FAT witnessing and follow-up, and assessment of production standards and specifications.

The new railway track is approximately 13km long, which consists of 8 railway bridges, several operating path bridges and culverts, soft-soil tunnel, and the longest railway bridge in Norway, the Minnevika bridge (836m).

Anita Auseth, Operations Manager QC, said: “This contract is an important step for the Axess Group, working towards larger market segments outside the oil & gas industry. It allows us to develop our rapidly rising expertise within the public road- and railway sector, and to demonstrate our competency within materials, welding and coating technology.”

Axess North Sea has been recently certified as ISO 45001:2018 compliant, the newly upgraded Global Occupational Health and Safety Standard.

This was achieved after DNV conducted an audit of their operations, safety policies, leadership, management and accountability roles.  Axess North Sea is one of the first companies in Aberdeen to achieve this.

ISO 45001 is an international standard that will replace the existing Occupational Health and Safety Standard OHSAS 18001.

Donna Gray, Axess North Sea Operations Managers, said: “We continuously strive to meet the highest international standards on occupational health, safety and quality in our operations.  Despite the unsteady economy, Axess continues to invest in its processes, its people and in maintaining compliance across different statutory regulations.  I look forward to Axess North Sea’s continued to growth within the UKCS.”

Our team from Singapore has successfully carried out a dropped objects prevention scheme (DROPS) audit and inspection on two land drilling rigs in Papua New Guinea. Our client, an international rig operator, commended our team for a safe and efficient job execution.

The scope of work included planning, assessment of the client’s DROPS procedures, DROPS inspection, verification of secondary retention and gap analysis. All areas of non-conformance were reported to the client, which included a detailed closing recommendation and corrective actions.

DROPS management system and inspection program is a systematic approach to prevent dropped objects. Axess Group’s DROPS portfolio–design and verification, baseline surveys, 3^rd party inspection, training and barrier management–allows rig owners and operators to strategically prevent falling objects and prevent injuries to personnel and damage to assets.

For more information about this project, contact our Singapore team at [email protected]

Axess Offshore Africa provided a team to support a multinational FPSO operator to change out one of their vessel’s control umbilical, in preparation for their field expansion project offshore West Africa.

Using a combination of rope access and suspended netting platforms to access the work site, the task was completed quickly and safely without the need for heavy and complex scaffolding. Other work scopes included cold cutting, pipe fitting, bolt torqueing, rigging, and lifting which utilised our multi-skilled nature.

“Leveraging the Axess’ global network, allowed for client meetings in Africa and North America, ensuring that the client’s global project team were always kept up to speed on the project as well as saving travel costs and time,” said Maarten Turkstra, Managing Director of Axess Offshore Africa.

“This has been yet another great accomplishment from the Axess team, ensuring maximum uptime and zero harm for our client’s operations,” Turkstra added.

Axess Group has signed a two-year frame agreement with Vestas Wind Systems A/S for the Enterprise of Competence (EoC) and annual inspection of all Vestas-operated wind farms in Norway.

The scope of work includes the inspection and certification of all the lifting equipment, using advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) methods and several in-house engineering disciplines. The contract also covers documentation review and evaluation of performed maintenance to better improve maintenance strategy and structural integrity.

Inspecting and monitoring the condition of the wind turbines are vital to ensure high performance and reduce safety risks.

Eirik Notsund, Axess Group’s Client Manager Renewables said: “This contract is an important step for us towards gaining more opportunities within the rapidly developing renewable energy sector. It enables us to demonstrate our asset integrity management capabilities, and allows us to develop our competency within the wind energy industry.”

Axess Petrorig Ghana reaches another important milestone by signing a long-term Total Rig Integrity Management (TRIM) contract with an international drilling Operator.

The contract covers all TRIM scopes onboard two of the client’s drillships offshore Ghana. The work scope includes lifting gear inspection and certification, non-destructive testing, dropped object management, rigging & access solutions, etc.

Axess Petrorig Ghana will provide rotational crew over the course of the contract, with 40% local content participation at contract commencement. Axess aims to reach 75% local content participation by contract end through the continuous upskilling of Ghanaian technicians and transfer of valuable knowledge and skills during contract execution.

Alex Owen, Country Manager of Axess Petrorig Ghana, said: “This contract allows us to gain valuable market share in the competitive drilling segment in Ghana, as well as strengthen our relationship with the Operator globally. We are committed to providing a quality, cost-efficient solution providing maximum uptime to drilling operations.”

Axess do Brasil’s Project Management team has recently completed a four-day Scrum Master Training on 14 to 17 August 2018 at Quode Project Training Center.

Scrum is an Agile framework methodology suitable for professionals who are looking to improve their project management and organisation agility. This process allows a team to self-organise and to continuously maximise performance when working on a project.

At Axess, WE: CREATE an environment where each team member is motivated, accountable and focused on delivering value to our team members and clients. For more information and future collaboration, contact our Brazil office or send us an email at [email protected].

Axess North Sea Ltd. recently participated in the Annual IADC North Sea Chapter Golf Tournament which was held at the picturesque Banchory Golf Club in Aberdeenshire on the 22^nd June 2018.

The team representing Axess North Sea consisted of Ryan Stephen and John Baird from Axess, and Ole Jakob and Robert McInnes from Equinor.

The golfers were lucky with the weather conditions and Axess were fortunate enough to be the winners on the day .

Ryan Stephen of Axess commented on the event by saying, “On behalf of Axess, we would like to thank the IADC for the invitation and organising a fantastic event. The event also provided us with an opportunity to catch up with everyone in the UK IADC North Sea Chapter and being winners of the event is an added bonus”.

Axess Group is thrilled to announce the award of a substantial contract with a major energy company. The award encompasses technical lifting advisory services and inspection of all lifting equipment on their assets in West Africa.

Axess was able to secure this contract by demonstrating its global success in providing these services to other international energy players, having a sustainable local content development strategy, and offering an economic advantage through its advanced inspection software which optimises inspection and reporting time.

Maarten Turkstra, Vice President of Axess Africa, commented: “This contract fits into Axess’ strategic upskilling of national resources, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our regional footprint. We have worked hard to build up our competency and reputation within the region and are proud to have clients put their trust in us.”

Learn more about our capabilities and local content strategies in Africa. Send us an email at [email protected]

Axess North Sea successfully completed their Achilles First Point Assessment (FPAL) Verify audit on 8th June 2018.

Janice Stocks, QHSE Advisor from Achilles, said: “The scores are excellent for a new company and gives us a great platform on which to make improvements.”

Achilles FPAL is an international safety body that validates supplier data and ultimately mitigates risks globally. Verification by Achilles FPAL establishes an organisation’s competency across QHSE and training, reducing the need for oil and gas clients in auditing potential vendors.

Donna Gray, Axess North Sea Operations Manager, said: “I am very pleased with the overall achievement in gaining the FPAL Verify and it is another addition to our portfolio gained this year.”

Axess Group has expanded its capabilities to include Marine Warranty Services, Marine Assurance, Dynamic Positioning Assurance and Engineering Solutions to the Oil and Gas industry, following the appointment of Axess North America’s new Managing Director, Mr. Espen Thomassen.

The integrated services will provide Axess’ clients with seamless project execution across all aspects of their marine operations—from vessel positioning, system audits, condition surveys and verification. These will be complemented by the Group’s existing asset integrity management and engineering services, providing turn-key solutions to the shipping, offshore and marine industry.

Mr. Thomassen has held previous executive positions at Global Maritime. His 10-year industry experience and deep understanding of the local market brings a wealth of expertise within the marine sector.

“In response to the increasing local demand for marine operations support, we are excited to bring in these new services to our existing and potential clients. I truly believe that the mix of culture, the company values and the creative mindset of the people is what makes this company great,” said Mr. Thomassen.

We have employed experienced and highly respected staff from diverse backgrounds within the industry, including master mariners, marine engineers, and naval architects. We look forward to expanding our market share throughout 2019 and contributing to Axess’ portfolio globally.

Axess North Sea Ltd. is proud to announce the award of Full Membership to Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), following an audit held on 21^st March 2018.

Recognition from the world’s leading authoritative body for all organisations involved in the lifting equipment industry, underpins the integrity of our quality work processes and demonstrates our commitment to the industry, clients and personnel.

Bob Clayton, Axess North Sea’s Operations Support, said: “Attaining this independent LEEA Membership confirms Axess North Sea’s commitment to the UKCS.  It improves our capabilities to gain up-to-date information on all aspects of testing, examination and certification of lifting equipment.  In addition, it also provides us vast access to all the latest technical, legal and safety standards necessary to achieve operational success and utmost service to our clients”.

Mr. Ray Liversidge, Axess North Sea’s Technical Support (Level III NDT Inspector and Level III IRATA – Rope Access), presented at the UK Conference on Certification and Standardisation in NDT/CM on 20-21 March 2018 at Manchester, UK.

In his presentation, Mr. Liversidge shared the current climate of the oil and gas industry and the general positive trend that is felt in Aberdeen. He also reviewed the major events the industry has experienced over the last 5 years: how the Brent Crude Oil Price affected the industry NDT requirements, Rig Utilisation Trend over the last few years since the oil price crash, and the lack of update of the PCN Level Corrosion & Erosion In-Service Inspection qualification that was introduced in 2014/2015.

Among the key topics he discussed are:

• Oil & Gas Industry Announcements for the last few months.
• The qualification requirements for the Oil & Gas Industry in both the Production Side and Drilling Side of the Industry.
• How the O&G industry certification requirements demand multi-disciplined NDT Technicians to fill bed spaces, leaving little or no room for trainee technicians to gain new qualifications.
• The redundancies made in 2014/2015 have left a skills deficit in experienced NDT technicians in the area, and how several companies in Aberdeen expect to have a skills shortage in the next year or two as the industry bounces back.

Organised by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT), the two-day event focused on the recent issues and changes to the Personnel Certification of Non-Destructive Testing (PCN) scheme, as well as the past, present and future development of NDT/CM personnel certification from various industries.

For more information and future collaboration, contact Axess North Sea or send us an email at [email protected].

Axess Group has opened a new unit in Oslo in January 2018 to further strengthen its advisory services within the economic center of Norway, as well as to serve its new and existing clients in the Oslo area.

Christian Nerland, Axess Group’s Director of Advisory Services, said: “Axess Group’s robust knowledge base, diverse project experience and geographical presence characterize our strongest assets in this respect. We aim to help clients respond to the dynamic nature of the oil and gas industry, which calls for strict project risk management in all stages of both greenfield and brownfield projects.”

Axess will also extend its advisory services to serve clients in the finance and banking institutions, law firms, insurance companies and asset owners alike.

The Oslo office is currently working on several projects within its focus areas and the positive outlook in the industry is currently leading to increased demand.

In the coming months, the Oslo office will gradually bring employees on board and collaborate closely with other entities within the Axess Group. The overall goal is to build a sustainable unit and provide value to clients by delivering a relevant portfolio of high-quality services.

Learn more about our Advisory Services. Contact us at [email protected] 

Axess Group celebrates a successful year of partnership with the world’s biggest offshore driller, providing third party inspection services to more than 25 drilling units operating worldwide. In the last 12 months, we have seen 5 out of 6 client satisfaction rate with zero HSE harm to report.

Awarded in January 2017, this long-term exclusive contract aims to maximize the efficiency of the client’s procedures globally, reduce operational expenditures and digitalize deliveries.

The contract scope includes periodic crane, drilling and lifting gear inspection, project management, various non-destructive testing (NDT) requirements, cost and scope optimization, and overall asset integrity management. This 2018, additional mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines were added to the work scope, which reaffirms the strength of our solutions and effective global team collaboration.

Jostein Tverdal, Axess North America’s Vice President, said: “Our goal going into this contract is to prove that the Axess Group can be a partner in reducing the cost of ownership for our clients, as well as to create additional value by utilizing our very qualified workforce and the solutions we have for data capture and analysis. I see the additional added scope categories as an acknowledgment to our continuous effort to become a trusted partner.”

“The Axess Group is becoming a recognized as a valuable partner, not only by the clients we have today but also by other major drilling companies that are showing a growing interest in the same type of contract. We aim to utilize this interest to enter into more global partnerships in the coming years,” Tverdal added.

Axess Group has been awarded a frame agreement by the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) for the provision of consultancy services related to offshore lifting equipment and lifting operations. Through this contract, Axess will contribute to the PSA’s authoritative regulatory responsibilities within the petroleum industry in the Norwegian Continental Shelf by implementing strategic maintenance and preventative inspection routines.

The duration of the agreement is 2 years with an option to extend for another 2 years.

Axess Group’s CEO, Børge Gjeldvik, said: “The contract is a recognition of our technical expertise and we look forward to contributing in the PSA’s important efforts to ensure health, safety and the environment on the NCS for the benefit of the society and stakeholders of the industry.”

Axess Group has completed a Dropped Object Prevention Scheme (DROPS) baseline survey and rectification of faults on an offshore oil platform operated by a major oil and gas producer in Canada, to alleviate the risks of dropped objects and improve the installation’s HSE compliance. Fifteen personnel were mobilised during the 2-month project early this year and over 500 customised DROPS field manuals were delivered to the client in September 2017.

Due to the scale of the project and the limited time window due to impending weather conditions, Axess were required to bring in extra resources and closing items to complete the job within the client’s timeframe. Sea ice hampered the progress and created operational downtime by preventing supplies and personnel reaching the platform. Despite the conditions, Axess successfully implemented the DROPS inspection program, with thousands of lock nuts and securing wires installed on the platform.

Stephen Hamlyn, Axess Baffin’s Principal Engineer, said: “This project is important to our entity as it has increased our local market presence, being recognised as the premier DROPS Management and Inspection company in Eastern Canada. We have gained significant revenue and experiences, pulling in resources from our Norway, Houston, and South Africa offices.”

At Axess Group, we have established a track record as a DROPS Integrity Management partner for leading oil and gas operators globally. For further information on how our we can foster a safe working environment free from dropped objects, contact us or email [email protected].

Axess Group is pleased to announce the below changes within the management organisational structure in the APAC region. The changes have been implemented to ensure the continued growth and success within the region.

The first change is the appointment of Fergus Murray as its new South Korea Country Manager/VP APAC effective on October 2017.

In his new role, Murray will oversee the business development and operations of Axess in South Korea, focusing on the early stages of field development projects, Exploration and Production (E&P) sector and new market initiatives. He will continue to proactively identify project opportunities and maintain existing client relations by capitalising on our expanding global footprint.

Murray is currently the Managing Director of Axess Singapore, where he supervises the development and execution of corporate strategies and policies, towards the profitable growth of the company. He was one of the forerunners that initiated the business set-up of the entity in 2012. He significantly contributed to what is now a strong regional presence of Axess Group in Asia Pacific.Murray said, “It is with a heavy heart that I leave Singapore after 8 years, it has been very exciting and rewarding to build up an entity into the success it is today. Heading to Korea will be challenging, especially in these turbulent times, but with the foundation firmly laid by Svein Eide, I am looking forward to the task. Our aim is to continue to offer the high-quality services to our clients whilst setting the wheels in motion to develop our physical footprint in the region. Axess has built a strong team in APAC and I look forward to being part of its continued growth in the coming years.”

Murray will be replacing Svein Eide, who will be returning to Norway to become the Group’s Chief Operations Officer (COO). The management has recognised Svein’s notable achievements from starting Axess APAC presence in early 2012. During this time, his tenure has seen Axess Group, within the region, boast an impressive portfolio of over 110 new builds and conversion projects. This has firmly placed Axess Group as a serious player within the new build arena.

Svein Eide, Axess Group’s COO said, “Our projects from Asian yards and international oil companies have brought in progressive financial and developmental returns to Axess Group in the last three years. Despite the downturn, this region continuously presents a wide array of exciting opportunities for the Group. South Korea, specifically, has played a critical part in Axess’ global model of partnering with our clients throughout the life cycle of their assets/projects—from the construction/conversion phases to their final operating locations.”

“I am confident that these internal changes will enable us to maintain our expertise within the asset integrity management sector, which has bolstered our reputation for providing high-quality services to the energy segment,” he added.

Finally, Ricardo Freire, Operations Manager of Axess Singapore, will be heading the Singapore entity’s business operations moving forward. Freire’s experience and competency in business development, offshore engineering and project management, which started in Axess do Brasil, will bring an invaluable leadership to the Singapore entity. Together with his strong team, they will continue to execute projects to the highest quality and safety requirements expected from our clients.

We wish all the gentlemen the best of luck in their new roles and for the continued success of the Axess Group within the APAC region.

Our team from Singapore, Houston and Korea created a 10-man inspection team onboard a newly delivered drillship from DSME in South Korea destined for the Gulf of Mexico. The multi-skilled team successfully executed various baseline inspection scopes during its voyage from Korea to Cape Town earlier this month.

The scope of work, which began at the shipyard in Korea, included Lifting Equipment Certification (LEC), DROPS Inspections, installation of secondary retention, load test of the helideck perimeter nets and supply/installation of the MSA Ladder Latch system in compliance with the client’s requirements. John Mehaffey from Axess Houston joined the team to ensure continuity during the operation of the rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

The client greatly benefited from having a versatile inspection team on-board, able to carry out a variety of scopes using rope access as a tool to reach otherwise inaccessible locations quickly and easily.

At present, a three-man team from Axess are deployed onboard the drillship on its last leg transit from Cape Town to Houston. Interestingly, these three gentlemen represent our global footprint as we have an American, a Singaporean and a South African working together on the rig. These synergies are harmonious of Axess’ operations.

A similar project on a sister rig is scheduled to start in October 2017, where we will provide the same work scope.

The team managed to get some well-deserved R&R during the crew change in Cape Town. Axess appreciates the hard work displayed by Faisal Amir, Offshore Project Manager, and his team. Another project completed, safely, on time and within budget.

Axess Group’s HSEQ and HR Manager, Mr. Arne Litlere, has participated in a forum with the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Mr. Børge Brende, on 2 August 2017 in Molde, Norway, exploring export opportunities for businesses in Norway. Business leaders from various industries shared their thoughts on wealth tax, oil price fall, the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement, and the importance of tax for multi-national companies.

According to Litlere, despite the oil slump which resulted in major staff cuts in the last two years, the oil service company is now recovering with a series of significant awards on a global scale. While it is rewarding to follow and support their clients globally, Litlere said it has become equally challenging for a multi-national company like theirs to optimise their taxes. To resolve this, he shared that the best solution is to involve advisors and lawyers who are experts in tax law, compliance and planning. This allows the company to understand complex issues and resolve tax law concerns more efficiently.

Other companies from manufacturing, engineering and material handling industries shared how they have adapted to the downturn of oil and energy industry.

Jon Daniel Nesje from Wonderland said that while there is a tough competition in exporting beds abroad, he capitalises on collaborating with other companies and creating unique goods to drive success. He added that the “Made in Norway” brand remains a quality and competitive stamp abroad.

Mr. Kjell Ødegård, from the engineering company AXTech, believes that wealth tax should be reduced as it affects small to medium-sized enterprises in Norway. Aukra Maritime’s representative, Mr. Per Arne Rindarøy, shared how the crane supplier has shifted from oil-related activities to the thriving fishing industry, has made them rely on global exports within the fishing industry to increase revenues.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister concluded that the market change has already begun and that different industries have started to adapt to export at full speed. He added that politicians should not only focus on a single industry, but it is important to set sound framework conditions so entrepreneurs and innovators can seize more opportunities.

Axess Group is pleased to announce the continuation of its long-standing cooperation with a global offshore drilling company’s semi-submersible rigs operating in the North Sea. This contract extension has been fixed until 2020 and may possibly span through 2023.

The drilling contractor has commissioned Axess Group to deliver Total Rig Integrity Management (TRIM) solution, which involves a comprehensive planning and implementation of class-related DROPS Inspection, Risk Based Inspection (RBI), Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), hull and structural inspections, asset integrity management deliveries, Enterprise of Competence (EoC) and other mechanical engineering services.

Over the years, Axess Group has been providing tailored business consultancy, close project cooperation and excellent offshore engineering deliveries to the client, yielding competitive advantages over traditional suppliers. Following a series of substantial business wins for Axess, this partnership will see the Group’s commitment to sustaining its competitive edge in inspection and integrity management within the offshore industry.

Axess Group’s CEO, Børge Gjeldvik, said: “Providing optimal solution to one of the world’s leading offshore drilling contractors is a confirmation of our strong foothold in the North Sea. Despite the tough market situation, we are committed to provide cost-effective, reliable and highly efficient integrity solutions to our clients.”

If you want to learn more about Axess Group’s TRIM concept, don’t hesitate to contact us at  [email protected].

Axess Group has efficiently implemented a baseline Dropped Object Prevention Scheme (DROPS) on an international offshore production company’s newly constructed FPSO, during its voyage from Singapore to West Africa.

Integrated with Lifting Equipment Certification (LEC), our skilled technicians from Singapore initially carried out the DROPS inspection in all areas at height which pose the highest risk for dropped objects to occur. The team worked closely with the client, highlighted non-conforming areas, and subsequently rectified the findings in compliance with industry approved best practices.

Upon reaching Africa, local skilled and competent technicians took over the progressive remedial work scopes; focusing on high-risked items to ensure the hazards of a dropped object are mitigated. The client also requested for support in commissioning activities utilising rope access techniques, where required. This demonstrates the  multi-skilled capabilities found within Axess’ offshore teams.

Dropped objects could potentially cause severe harm to personnel and offshore assets alike. Axess Group’s DROPS program offers a systematic approach to reduce dropped object incidents, provide the most effective risk-reducing measures, and essentially implement a safe working environment for the client.

Axess Group has a proven track record in ensuring our clients’ assets are free from dropped object throughout the oil and gas industry. Axess has carried out such inspection on drilling rigs, FLNGs, FPSOs, floating offshore structures, fixed platforms, offshore construction vessels, as wells as onshore refineries.

Contact us to find out more information and how we can improve the safety of your project.

Axess Group has expanded its service offerings in Southern Africa through the acquisition of its long-running offshore services partner Skysite Offshore based in Cape Town. After five years of strong collaboration, the Group has decided to buy the majority shares of Skysite Offshore.

Skysite Offshore is a South African-based offshore asset integrity management provider, specialising in diverse offshore inspection and maintenance services for the upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas sector. The company has ten years’ experience in the offshore service sector, and individual branch certifications for major class societies.

Situated in Cape Town, Axess Offshore Africa Ltd., is now the operational African headquarters that will service the entire region, headed by Managing Director, Mr. Maarten Turkstra.

Axess Group has regarded Skysite Offshore as a strong international partner with a solid footprint in Africa. By acquiring one of the forerunners in the region, Axess Group would be able to strengthen its full spectrum of services and position itself as a leader in asset integrity management within the industry.

Maarten Turkstra, Managing Director of Axess Offshore Africa, said: “We’re excited to bring the full offerings of the Axess Group into Africa and expand on our services to include Engineering, Risked Based Inspection (RBI), crane inspection and maintenance through *Alpa AS, and leverage our global footprint, providing a quality end service to our Clients.”

An international drilling company has partnered with Axess Group for integrated inspection and maintenance services on a rig reactivation project. The semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU), which will be reactivated for the offshore drilling project in Malaysia later in 2017, was warm stacked in Namibia since mid-2016.

For a duration of 3 months, the team from Africa will carry out Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections including Advanced Inspection Methods (AIM), Lifting Equipment Certifications (LEC), DROPS survey, rope access, rigging, ex-inspections and scaffolding services on the voyage from Namibia to Malaysia.

Upon reaching Malaysia, Axess’ global footprint in Singapore will continue the project execution while nurturing existing relationship with the client. Maarten Turkstra, Managing Director of Axess Africa, stated: “We value client relations by ensuring that they receive the highest standard solutions as we follow them globally.”

The collaboration with the major offshore drilling company started when Axess Group provided the Total Rig Integrity Management (TRIM) solutions on the client’s semi-submersible rig in Angola whilst on contract.  Despite its inactivity in Namibia during the course of 2016, the Group continued to provide basic services to the asset whenever the client required.

Contact us for more information about the project.

Opening an office in Aberdeen has been one of the top priorities of Axess Group, however, the plans had been shelved due to the economic downturn in 2015. After winning a major contract with the world’s largest offshore drilling contractor in November 2016, the ambition to set a foothold in the Granite City, has finally been realised.

Axess North Sea Ltd. will be launching the opening of its own building in Dyce, Aberdeen, by the end of this month. Along with the strong support from the global hubs, Donna Gray, Operations Manager at Axess North Sea, supervises the business development in Scotland.

According to Ms. Gray, “The four-years contract with the global offshore drilling company is our focus now. The first two quarters of the year is doing positively well. We’re glad that our customers are being receptive and eager to listen.”  She added that Axess’ global presence, particularly in Norway, yields a competitive edge, as not all companies in Aberdeen are capable of extending their services in the Norwegian sea. The key competence of Axess North Sea is its Asset Integrity Management (AIM), Safe Lifting Gear Operations & Crane Maintenance, Modification and Replacement.

Opportunities in Britain’s oil and gas sector

“The initial success of Axess in Aberdeen is attributed to the positive collaboration of Axess Group, working together as team despite this difficult period. Steep price competition is the main challenge, nevertheless, Axess addresses this smartly by being versatile.”, said Ms. Gray.

Leveraging its comprehensive planning capabilities and extensive experience gained on more than 300 installations worldwide, Axess Group can provide predictable costs while delivering utmost services and solutions.

Setting up the new office and building a strong team in Aberdeen is one of the priorities of Donna at present time. She said: “In the coming months, we are aiming to recruit an Operations Co-ordinator, Project Engineer, Technical Lead and Work Leaders. Managing our current contract, maintaining excellent customer relationships, and consistently discovering untapped markets are our primary focus to drive profitability.”

In the next couple of years, Axess North Sea aims to solidify existing contract expectations, increase brand recognition in Scotland and UK, build on the strong Norwegian customer base, and develop a plan for future market change.

Ms. Gray added, “Our long-term goals include nurturing our tier 1 customer base in the UK and focus on income improvement. We will also identify new customers and add them to our strong customer base.”

Alpa AS has won successive large contracts for the delivery of Alpa winches to key offshore installations located in the Norwegian and the UK Continental Shelf.

The double secured winches were designed in close cooperation with the client. The design, which allows lifting over live processing plants without the need of a shut down, is based on previously delivered winches. This demonstrates that Alpa’s solutions enhance overall value to the client. The unique design increases lifting efficiency, adheres to Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) regulations on critical drilling and well operations, and significantly reduces project costs whilst maximising uptime.

One of the clients, an offshore operator in Norway, said “Alpa’s capacities and problem-solving culture are impressive. … (having a) partner that delivers the highest quality standards in a timely manner is critical in these market conditions.”

Gunnar Gjeldvik, Alpa AS’ Managing Director, said: “Working in close collaboration with the clients and understanding their operational problems, was a key element in winning these double secured winch awards. We will continue to strengthen our strong foothold in the market to further gain promising prospects for 2018 and beyond.”

Contact us to know more information about the contract.

After a series of successful business pursuits in 2016, Axess Group has officially opened its office in Accra, Ghana, as a response to the emerging economic viability of West African oil and energy economy.

The accelerated growth is due to the overwhelming positive response from the major offshore exploration and production (E&P) players in West Africa. This confirms that Axess Group’s expertise in integrity management is highly valued by its clients.

Axess Petrorig Ghana Ltd., a Joint Venture between Axess Offshore Inspection Ltd. and Petrorig Oilfield Services Ltd., was incorporated in October 2016. The strategic partnership streamlines the management of in-country operations, logistics, personnel and other specialised services. With a strong knowledge of the local industry, quality assurance, work leadership and project management, the collaboration has already set exciting business opportunities ahead.

In May 2017, the team achieved a milestone as they landed a key FPSO contract with a major offshore production company. The job, encompassing four riser installations, is a major step forward in Axess Group’s commitment to delivering world-class asset integrity solutions.

Alex Owen, Ghana Country Manager, said: “We are continuously managing our offshore contract while increasing our marketing activities, establishing our office support and securing a new logistics base in Takoradi. Our aim is to leverage our extensive experience in the E&P sector, strong networks and global competency, to provide optimal solution for our clients.”

Axess Group won key engineering contract with one of the world’s largest FPSO operators, covering four offshore riser and umbilical installations in Ghana. This FPSO contract is the first major project awarded to the newly established Axess entity in Ghana.

To ensure a turnkey solution for the client, the scope of work consists of riser spool reinstatement, annulus vent tubing, installation of flexible umbilical hoses, termination of electrical umbilical pigtail and other mechanical engineering tasks.

A team of 13 competent engineer and technicians from Norway, South Africa and Ghana, were deployed to carry out the first riser installation of Phase 1 over a period of 35 days. Phase 2 will commence on June 20^th, factoring in nine Axess crews for a duration of approximately two months.

Winning this substantial contract would not be possible without the support of Axess Group’s global entities. The Singapore team initiated the communication process with the client during the FPSO’s construction in Asia Pacific. Alpa AS also made a substantial contribution during the quotation process. Another factor was the strategic Risk Based Inspection (RBI) analysis provided by the Group’s Inspection and Integrity Management division.

Axess Group’s CEO, Børge Gjeldvik, said: “This is a milestone for our newly established office in Ghana. We aim to exceed the client’s expectations to potentially secure upcoming in-service inspections and integrity management contract for the next decade. Axess Group will ensure the job execution will be done according to our highest quality standard.”

Send us an email to learn more about the contract.

Axess Group has successfully landed a Total Rig Integrity Management (TRIM) contract on all KCA Deutag’s offshore drilling operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). This significant award covers eight fixed drilling platforms and the additional two Category J jack-up rigs, Askeladden and Askepott, arriving from South Korea this year.

Initially awarded for four years, the agreement includes options for two 2-year extensions, potentially running for a total of 8 years. The scope encompasses Enterprise of Competence, Drilling equipment inspections, Risk based inspections, Dropped object prevention, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and Rope access.

Axess Group’s CEO, Børge Gjeldvik, said: “This project places Axess in a prime position to expand on the great collaboration we have established over the years with KCAD covering engineering solutions. We are extremely satisfied to be awarded with this key long-term contract as it further increases our market share on the NCS.”

KCAD has a history of strong and lasting cooperation with Axess on a number of engineering disciplines. Satisfaction from the previous years’ integrity management solutions, the TRIM service delivery concept, and our experience working with the CAT J units in South Korea, are the key factors for winning this award.

To find out more about the contract, email us at [email protected].

Alpa AS, Axess Group’s material handling legal entity, is proud to announce that it has secured a long-term agreement to deliver service, maintenance and modifications of offshore cranes and other lifting equipment. The contract covers a range of Statoil’s offshore installations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

The agreement has a duration of 4 years plus three optional periods of 4 years each. The contract’s potential is 16 years.

Gunnar Gjeldvik, Managing Director of Alpa, stated: “We are very pleased with the agreement and we are looking forward to continuing the strong cooperation with Statoil. We have been working together since 2006 and this contract confirms that our emphasis on safety, efficiency and cost-effective solutions is valued by Statoil.”

Alpa’s focus amid the industry recession has been to adapt to the new market conditions and listen to our clients’ needs by focusing on cost productive solutions to add value to their industry needs.

“This award is a recognition of the work and the expertise that we have extensively developed in Alpa and the Axess Group over the years. In a challenging market, this agreement will allow us to secure long-term activity and strengthen the Alpa team. With this contract, we will consolidate our position as a leading crane expert in the market.”, Gjeldvik added.

For more information about the contract, contact us at [email protected].

The process of setting up office and getting the business running was a project Axess approached with great respect. They formed a strategy to be present with local offices in the main hubs of the global oil and gas industry. Fortunately, their promise to one of their global key clients led to a fast establishment of the office in Houston. With growth of 50% last year combined with strong feedback from their clients, show that Axess’ presence has been well received in the North American market.

Due to the current downturn in the oil and gas market, competitive and predictable cost have become more important than ever before. “When we combine our planning capabilities, tools and experience gained from integrity management contracts and projects on more than 300 different offshore units, we can deliver predictable costs. At the same time we can deliver the quality that we know our clients are depending on” says Jostein Tverdal, MD at Axess Houston.

Jostein Tverdal recently relocated from the Axess headquarters in Norway to Houston. He has served in several positions within the Axess Group from the last eight years, and is now taking on his biggest challenge so far. “We have solid in-house competence here in Houston and a broad client base. We are optimistic about the future, but also highly focused on staying relevant and competitive. At the present time we are developing a new unit delivering advisory services, which will be launched later this year. Challenging times certainly dictates good and smart solutions. We’re keeping our heads cool and our long-term targets in sight”, says Tverdal.

The Axess expertise is deeply rooted in the industrial environment around Romsdalsfjorden, evolving from the early 1900s. Historically, this environment has been, and still is a leader in innovative solutions within shipbuilding, marine propulsion systems and material handling equipment.

Axess has since 2000 expanded to become a market leader within the area of control and certification of cranes and lifting equipment and is currently the largest service provider in Norway. This position is achieved through our broad expertise within crane- and lifting appliances.The challenge we have experienced through our growth was that some of our departments were hidden among the 14 different services Axess has to offer. Thus, one of the main reasons for establishing Alpa, was to differentiate Axess’ activities within verification and certification, and Alpa’s focus on modification, new design and product development. I believe that both companies will improve by separating these units. This gives us the ability to focus on what we do best. It is all about bringing the quality of our products and services to a new level. Both companies will collaborate on several projects, and with the core of former Axess employees, it is natural to transfer the successful performance culture from Axess to Alpa.

Simplicity

For us it is important from the incorporation of the company to create a clear identity and a way of thinking that will bring out the best in every engineer working in Alpa. We strive for simplicity as a solution to every complex challenge. It’s easy to make things bigger and more complex. We will have the courage to move in the opposite direction.

Alpa will focus on material handling methods based on our personnels passion for finding safe and efficient solutions for our clients. The Alpa team have simplicity as their main goal for every product. We are constantly challenging ourselves in how to obtain the best and safest functionality, with minimum complexity in the end product. Our experience gives us deep insight in drilling operations, and we focus on every part of material handling from shore to rotary.

“We strive for simplicity as a solution to every complex challenge. It’s easy to make things bigger and more complex. It takes insight and courage to move in the opposite direction.”

Bright Future

In the long run, I believe that the future of our business is bright. The low oil prices challenge us as we speak, but it has been a continuous growth within the oil business during the last ten years. History proves that a correction is wise, to achieve a necessary cool down in the market. This gives us a chance to bring our core business on a track prepared for the future of the oil and gas industry.

In Alpa, we will focus to build a service-minded culture putting the client needs in front. We will strive to respond and to deliver before or on time, every time. Keywords are “ready to use, solutions which are safe, easy to operate and maintain, machines with high-reliability components and design”. Our mission is to bring forward good solutions from the client need, to installed, commissioned and certified projects. Focus on project management, documentation, cost and communication is essential for us when building Alpa.

If we go back 10 years, the oil price was considerably lower than now and the activity level was far lower. So if we can deliver high quality, cost-efficient solutions, I think the future is bright and brings a lot of possibilities.

Our customers have more and more equipment that increases the complexity of every operation. We want to listen to our customers’ thoughts for the future and actively take part in making the next generation of solutions. The way material handling will be operated in the future is part of a constant evolution. One of the keys to lower costs is the ability to simplify solutions that will lead to efficiency without compromising safety. We believe the timing is right to give our highly competent material handling department necessary focus and resources to exploit the market potential.

We have already made a lot of different solutions for offshore cranes, BOP cranes, Riser cranes, Pipe handling cranes and Riser pull in winches, to name a few.

Axess has signed a contract with the oil company Lundin Norway for the supply of integrity and inspection services for the Edvard Grieg field in the North Sea on NCS. The contract covers the topside process plant, structure and the subsea equipment.

Lundin Norway has a goal to optimise the operation on the Edvard Grieg field to secure efficient, safe and environmentally friendly production and to maximise the recovery from the reservoir. It is also the ambition of Lundin Norway to be leading on health, environment and safety in the offshore and energy industry.

Axess has won the contract with Lundin Norway because they are a pro-active partner who contributes to continuous improvement of technical solutions, work processes, personnel qualifications and methods. In addition, they have employees with experience and expertise within relevant competence areas.

The contract has duration of 4 years in addition to options for further 4 years. The contract is of considerable value to Axess. It is important for Axess in securing their success both in Norway and internationally, and for reaching their goal of being a global leader within integrity management and inspection.

Facts about Axess:

Company established in 1998 with the headquarters in Molde and with offices in Bergen, Kristiansund, Orkanger, Trondheim, Houston, Rio de Janeiro, St. Johns and Singapore.

Axess supply solutions to the offshore and energy industry. The company has had a revenue growth of 25% every year since the start. The number of employees is 320. The revenue budget for 2014 is 620 MNOK. The main owners of Axess are leading employees within the company.

Axess has established in a new and exciting market. St. John’s in Newfoundland in Canada is the base for Axess Baffin Inc, and is an important step in the company’s ambitions to develop its international presence.

Axess Baffin is dedicated to help new and existing customers within the local oil and gas industry. The St. John’s area experiences a significant growth as a result of the present and future exploration and production activity.

Axess wants to be a part of this development and is currently searching the market for new hires and set up the infrastructure to be able to run the business in a safe and sustainable way.

Axess has a goal to keep growing and deliver world-class integrity solutions. This means that we have to follow our customers and serve them locally all over the world. St. John’s is a well-developed location and has a promising future. We are happy to take this new step in the company’s history, says Christian Nerland, Managing director Axess North America.