Solstad Offshore (SOFF), a Norwegian offshore service and shipping company, will make 50 offshore workers redundant due to sales and lay-ups of their vessels.
The company has sold and delivered the AHTS Normand Jarl, built in 1985.
In addition, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed for sale of the AHTS Normand Skarven, built in 1986, with expected delivery during June.
SOFF owns 72, 5% of Normand Skarven whilst Normand Jarl is 100% owned.
There will be a minor booked gain on the sales, but a positive cash effect of approx. NOK 45 million ($5.9 million).
Lay-ups and redundancies
According to the press release, due to a continued weak offshore market, particularly for the PSV segment, SOFF has decided to put the PSVs Normand Skipper and Normand Vester into lay-up. Normand Skipper is currently trading the North Sea spot market while Normand Vester is due to end a long-term contract in Brazil during June and will go into lay-up thereafter.
As a consequence of the two sales and lay-ups, about 50 offshore employees will be made redundant.
“The redundancies are very regrettable, and SOFF aims to carry out the process in an orderly manner and in close co-operations with the employee representatives,” says Lars Peder Solstad , CEO of Solstad Offshore.