NorSea Group to become a vital part of the Norwegian Armed Forces' logistical contingency apparatus
NorSea Group and the Wilh. Wilhelmsen Group have entered into a historic military response contract with the Norwegian Armed Forces. Among other things, the contract opens for the Armed Forces' use of base infrastructure owned by NorSea Group along the entire Norwegian coast.
"This is the first time the Norwegian Armed Forces have entered into such an important and wide-reaching contingency contract with a civilian industrial concern. The military response contract will reinforce the Armed Forces' response capability, and logistics deliveries from Wilhelmsen and NorSea Group will be of significant importance with regard to our preparedness, in addition to enhancing our endurance capability," states Haakon Brun-Hansen, the Norwegian Chief of Defence.
With nine strategically located supply bases all along the Norwegian coast, NorSea Group is the largest owner of base infrastructure in Norway. The company, which is owned by the Wilh. Wilhelmsen Group (40%), the Eidesvik Group (28%) and the Møkster Group (28%), has supplied base and logistics services to the oil and gas industry since 1965.
"To begin with, NorSea Group will supply logistics services to the Norwegian Home Guard and logistical support to allied reinforcement units. After 50 years in the industry, we have considerable experience of large, complex logistical operations," John Stangeland, CEO of the NorSea Group emphasises.
Co-operation in the past. Wilhelmsen has co-operated with the Armed Forces for many decades, a tradition which stretches back to the Second World War. NorSea Group also has experience of civil-military co-operation, having among other things been responsible for setting up and operating several temporary military camps in connection with the "Cold Response" winter exercise in 2014.
"We look forward to closer co-operation in years to come in support of the Armed Forces in their preparations and in the defence of Norway," says Stangeland.
"We are pleased to be able to make use of the expertise we have amassed to support the Norwegian Armed Forces and meet the strict national demands they place on preparedness and security," states Thomas Wilhelmsen, Chief Executive Officer of the Wilh. Wilhelmsen Group.
Enhancing the ability of the Home Guard and regular Armed Forces to receive allied reinforcement units
The contingency contract entails that NorSea Group takes responsibility for outfitting and supplying the Home Guard during national crises, as well as for assisting allied forces visiting Norway in peacetime, in times of crisis and in the event of war.
"The contingency contract will enable the Home Guard to handle assignments far more rapidly than in the past, making the unit more relevant than it has been for some considerable time," the Chief of Defence says.
NorSea Group AS is a privately owned company founded in 1965. The company is a leading supplier of base services and integrated logistics solutions to the oil and gas industry in Norway. The company has interests in nine strategically located supply bases along the Norwegian coast and is the largest owner of base infrastructure. The company also has operations in Scotland, Denmark and the Netherlands and can offer the oil and gas industry a unique coverage of the North Sea basin. The group has an annual turnover of around NOK 3 billion and around 1,200 employees. NorSea Group AS is headquartered in Tananger outside Stavanger. The company's main shareholders are Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding ASA, Eidesvik Eiendomsinvest and Simon Møkster Property AS.
This article was originally published on Marine & Industrial Report newspaper Vol 37 No.3 Issue last June 30,2015.
