Anyone fancy a boat trip to a North Sea rig?

[onesickpuppy]

Chaps,

I'm involved in managing supply vessels, and one of our shipowners is keen to get some pictures of their vessel working on location in the North Sea. Does anyone on here have the required skills? i.e. sea legs and handy with a camera?

Also, as we never know how long a trip will be due to weather conditions and rig schedule (it can vary from a couple of days to a week or more!) I'm thinking a dayrate would be the way forward? No certificates/qualifications are required as a full induction/safety brief will be carried out. You'd get your own cabin and be well fed.

Vessel is a modern UT755LN DPII for those interested.

Suggestions please...

[Otispunkmeyer]

onesickpuppy said:

Chaps,

I'm involved in managing supply vessels, and one of our shipowners is keen to get some pictures of their vessel working on location in the North Sea. Does anyone on here have the required skills? i.e. sea legs and handy with a camera?

Also, as we never know how long a trip will be due to weather conditions and rig schedule (it can vary from a couple of days to a week or more!) I'm thinking a dayrate would be the way forward? No certificates/qualifications are required as a full induction/safety brief will be carried out. You'd get your own cabin and be well fed.

Vessel is a modern UT755LN DPII for those interested.

Suggestions please...

Sounds like an amazing opportunity! I would love to do it, but I simply cannot take the time off, especially as you say, if the time off is relatively unknown!

[chrisj_abz]

sounds like fun, especially knowing the north sea in winter!

would have been tempted but im off into Hospital next week for an Op, and i dont think the docs would be too impressed with me disappearing for a week or so during the month im going to be at home recuperating....

[onesickpuppy]

chrisj_abz said:

sounds like fun, especially knowing the north sea in winter!

would have been tempted but im off into Hospital next week for an Op, and i dont think the docs would be too impressed with me disappearing for a week or so during the month im going to be at home recuperating....

I'll try to keep them away from WOS!

[markmullen]

That would be an awesome trip, depending on when it is I could do it.

[onesickpuppy]

markmullen said:

That would be an awesome trip, depending on when it is I could do it.

It would be fairly flexible, she's going to be in and out of Aberdeen for the next few weeks then she'll be working out of Great Yarmouth for the summer.

[markmullen]

Sounds ideal.

[rottie102]

I would be up for it!

[JohnS]

I'm in Aberdeen as well and could be up for it, depending on the dates and duration. Most of my camera equipment is weatherproof, so could even take photos in bad weather.

[onesickpuppy]

Right chaps, it looks like there is a bit of interest in this! Please PM me with your details, experience (commercial type photography) and seagoing experience if any. Also, please give me an idea of cost involved, bearing in mind you could be at sea for anything from a couple of days (which I'll try to arrange!) to over a week - you can't just get out and walk home!

I might be able to arrange for you to go onboard for a few hours next time she's in port to get a feel for what you'll be getting in to!

[onesickpuppy]

JohnS said:

I'm in Aberdeen as well and could be up for it, depending on the dates and duration. Most of my camera equipment is weatherproof, so could even take photos in bad weather.

John, she's alongside in Aberdeen just now if you want to go onboard for a look?

[onesickpuppy]

rottie102 said:

I would be up for it!

Got your PM, cheers. I've received a few and expect some more but I'll reply to everyone when I get a chance.

[JohnS]

onesickpuppy said:

John, she's alongside in Aberdeen just now if you want to go onboard for a look?

I can't manage today (car share on alternate days), but could pop along tomorrow. I've only taken shots of the ships coming in and out of the harbour so far:

[onesickpuppy]

JohnS said:

I can't manage today (car share on alternate days), but could pop along tomorrow. I've only taken shots of the ships coming in and out of the harbour so far:

Thanks John but she's sailing later with a heavy lift for BG.

[james_tigerwoods]

I'd love to, but my skills are laughable in comparison to those others - not to mention that I'm not in Aberdeen.

However, I'd love to see the end results of this - Please keep us posted?

[onesickpuppy]

james_tigerwoods said:

I'd love to, but my skills are laughable in comparison to those others - not to mention that I'm not in Aberdeen.

However, I'd love to see the end results of this - Please keep us posted?

If/when I get it sorted I'll try to post the results.

[crmcatee]

That would be a great trip - I've seen it from the rig perspective but always wondered what it would be like from 'down there on the bouncing thing'

I would have jumped at this and with weeks to spare would have loved it - again not being in Aberdeen doesn't help.

I trust the company want to get action shots whilst they unload in heavy seas.

Get your hands on a timelapse camera - rig up a power supply and then capture it 10 second bursts leaving harbour and the journey there and back - obviously facing backwards as it leaves the harbour and while it unloads then swap it round facing forwards coming back and turning right at Girdleness in the harbour. That would make a cracking video.

[onesickpuppy]

crmcatee said:

Get your hands on a timelapse camera - rig up a power supply and then capture it 10 second bursts leaving harbour and the journey there and back - obviously facing backwards as it leaves the harbour and while it unloads then swap it round facing forwards coming back and turning right at Girdleness in the harbour. That would make a cracking video.

Now that is a cracking idea!

[Lunja]

Sounds particularly interesting... I'm a videographer but I shoot timelapse, and also have an in-date ENG1 medical and STCW95 Survival at Sea ticket which I obtained for making sea transfers to offshore windfarm installations. If timelapse is something you're looking to commission then I'd happily offer a quote.

Edit: In fact, if the vessel is working out of Great Yarmouth over the summer is it assisting in the Gunfleet or Greater Gabbard offshore windfarm projects? I also have a climbing certificate so I can safely climb offshore ladders with a harness, so if a timelapse of an offloading operation taken from a turbine platform/transition piece would be useful I'd be happy to discuss ideas. I've previously shot a timelapse of a heavy lift vessel placing a substation onto a t-piece and in the edited video you see so much movement that the naked eye doesn't register! For example the lift vessel can be seen constantly adjusting position and ballast to fight both the shifting weight and the flow of the tide - absolutely fascinating.

Edited by Lunja on Monday 27th February 20:19

[onesickpuppy]

Lunja said:

Sounds particularly interesting... I'm a videographer but I shoot timelapse, and also have an in-date ENG1 medical and STCW95 Survival at Sea ticket which I obtained for making sea transfers to offshore windfarm installations. If timelapse is something you're looking to commission then I'd happily offer a quote.

Edit: In fact, if the vessel is working out of Great Yarmouth over the summer is it assisting in the Gunfleet or Greater Gabbard offshore windfarm projects? I also have a climbing certificate so I can safely climb offshore ladders with a harness, so if a timelapse of an offloading operation taken from a turbine platform/transition piece would be useful I'd be happy to discuss ideas. I've previously shot a timelapse of a heavy lift vessel placing a substation onto a t-piece and in the edited video you see so much movement that the naked eye doesn't register! For example the lift vessel can be seen constantly adjusting position and ballast to fight both the shifting weight and the flow of the tide - absolutely fascinating.

Edited by Lunja on Monday 27th February 20:19

Sounds amazing Lunja, you should post a link to the footage.

She'll be supporting the Ensco 70 out of GY.

ETA: It's straight photography we're looking for, but I'll keep you in mind.