Esbjerg must be more visible on the map of the world

The Managing Director of Danbor Service, Søren Fløe Knudsen, to a large extent is credited with the drilling rigs returning to Esbjerg Harbour for repair and modification. But they do not arrive on their own, and the harbour should improve its facilities and its visibility in the world.

In 1999, when Søren Fløe Knudsen with his more than 20 years of offshore experience as his ballast, arrived at Esbjerg as the manager of Maersk Contractors, he quickly noted a fact: for years no North Sea rig had called at Esbjerg Harbour.

He knew that the alternatives were Norway, Aberdeen and Rotterdam, and he was aware that Stavanger and Aberdeen were more expensive than Esbjerg as they did not have repair teams and service companies available and at hand close to the jetty.

“My conclusion was, that as Esbjerg had available a qualified work force, the infrastructure and logistical situation were better than in the competing harbours. Consequently, I found it worth while checking, if my theories held water,” states Søren Fløe Knudsen, who is now Managing Director of another Maersk company, Danbor Service.

“The operators of the rigs in the
North Sea should know that their
rigs can be repaired in Esbjerg”,
states Søren Fløe Knudsen,
Managing Director of Danbor Service
Photo: Niels Husted

In offshore circles Søren Fløe Knusen is credited with the return of the rigs to Esbjerg as now two or three rigs per year from Maersk and other operators call for maintenance, up-grading or re-certification.

More visible
The Danbor Manager, however, is warning against taking for granted that Esbjerg may continue to attract rigs to be modified at a cost of 100-200 million DKK pr. unit. He notes with satisfaction that in its master plan Esbjerg Harbour is planning for a special sector of its premises to be dedicated rigs. This area will have the facilities required, and here the rigs can be moored without hampering the normal traffic in the harbour.

“But it is important to tell the world as such that this is a job we are good at. The operators of the rigs in the North Sea should know that their rigs can be repaired in Esbjerg. We are up against mastodons in the UK, Norway and the Netherlands – and they have made their names known,” states Søren Fløe, who recommends that the service and repair yards and workshops of the harbour join forces in a marketing campaign strengthening Esbjerg’s position in the international offshore community.

Offshore Center useful
Esbjerg Harbour has no dry-dock to accommodate a rig. That may limit its capacity, but most of the rigs found in the North Sea will have no problems in calling at Esbjerg for the necessary repairs and modifications.

“The rigs of the North Sea are getting older and thus needing more repair, and the requirements to their equipment are increasing. Repair of rigs is a result of us being a player in the oil and gas industry for many years, and it may easily lead to other business opportunities.”

Søren Fløe considers it of the utmost importance to the entire region – even to the entire country – that Denmark promotes its name in the international offshore industry. In this context Offshore Center Danmark (OCD) is a suitable forum for exchange of experience and new ideas for the development of this branch.

“Furthermore, the Offshore Center may mitigate the lack of visibility typical for Esbjerg and Denmark as an offshore area. Let’s place Esbjerg on the map of the world. That must be our regional and national challenge,” declares Søren Fløe Knudsen.

Prestigeous conference
Søren Fløe Knudsen did a useful bit of lobbying prior to Esbjerg hosting the prestigious IADC conference in May 2005, and this was one of his ways of giving Esbjerg more impact as an international offshore town.

“We would like to see more of that kind of conferences. They could result in the town being a natural meeting place for some of the heavies within the oil & gas industry!”

Facts about Danbor Service
Danbor Service AS has a staff of 600, and by taking over another Maersk company, Maersk H2S Safety Services, is now operating over most of the world. From its base in Esbjerg Harbour Danbor Service is handling a number of activities in order to supply and serve Maersk Oil and other oil companies. Danbor Service, thus, is involved in stevedoring, forwarding, agencies, certification, production of offshore units, trucking, catering and many other functions.