UK-based ship management company, V.Ships, has supported SBM Offshore with a complex crew change for the Liza Destiny FPSO, relieving the last batch of 8 crew members.
The Onsigners had arrived 2 weeks earlier, completed their quarantine ashore at Georgetown, Guyana and on testing COVID-19 negative, flew offshore to resume their duties after a gap of more than three months.
Like many offshore installations, the Liza Destiny – Guyana’s first oil production vessel – was impacted heavily by COVID-19 international travel restrictions. This meant that despite SBM Offshore and V.Ships’ best efforts, crew changes were almost impossible for a number of months.
The crew change was a result of the collective efforts of both companies; SBM Guyana shore based and Liza Destiny Offshore staff, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the overdue crew could be relieved and new crew could join.
“This was a collaborative effort tackling a number of logistical challenges, including the arrangement of transport, visas and compliance with various government regulations, all while the situation continued to change rapidly,” said Allan Falkenberg, CEO of Crew Management and Offshore at V.Group. “I’d like to thank the crew on board who remained patient while we worked hard to iron out the details, as well as SBM and ExxonMobil for helping in making the impossible possible.”
“A huge well done to the Liza Destiny V.Ships guys and appreciation from the top management,” said Colm Kilcullen, Offshore Installation Manager for SBM Offshore.
The Liza Destiny began producing oil offshore Guyana in December 2019.
