Global operator in the subsea inspection, repair and maintenance sector (IRM), Harkand, has embarked on a contract awarded by Premier Oil Plc to support the operator activities on the Solan field development, West of Shetland.

The multi-purpose service vessel the Siem Spearfish, which is on long-term charter to Harkand, arrived in Newcastle earlier this month to begin mobilization for the campaign which will see it perform walk-to-work duties for the ongoing commissioning work on site.

The Spearfish is being fitted with an Ampelmann active motion compensated gangway which will allow personnel to walk onto the Solan platform safely, even in high wave conditions. The Spearfish is due to arrive on site in Block 205/26a in the UKCS later this month with the work expected to run until August.

The 120m Spearfish was launched last year after being designed and built at the Vard facility in Norway with input from Harkand. Constructed with a deck layout specifically designed to increase the efficiency for mobilization and demobilization, it is equipped with a 250 ton AHC offshore crane with 3,000m of wire and two heavy workclass Triton 4000 meter XLS ROVs and can accommodate a crew of 110.

Harkand Europe managing director David Kerr said: “Solan is an important development and is expected to contribute to the UK economy for the next 20 years. It is also a potentially challenging project in terms of the variable weather conditions anticipated West of Shetland.

“The safety and welfare of the offshore workforce is paramount and we are pleased to have been selected to provide support with a state-of-the-art vessel which is outfitted with the necessary equipment and the people to meet the demands of working offshore West of Shetland.”