Transformed from a domestic fishing business to an international operator of platform supply vessels with activities off East Africa as well as in the North Sea, Skansi Offshore is attracting talent to build a Faroese merchant shipping sector.
With assets worth 1.6 billion dkk (214 million eur) spread over five top-of-the-line platform supply vessels, Skansi Offshore is fast becoming the epitome of a new breed of successful Faroese shipping companies. Since its entry into the offshore business, the company — originally part of a fishing conglomerate owned by Tummas Justinussen and his family — has seen rapid growth following its baptism of fire as it took delivery of its first PSV in 2009. By the time a fifth new PSV was added to its fleet, in 2013, a remarkable transformation of the company had taken place.
Still family owned but now together with several external investors, Skansi Offshore has had a strong launch, winning contracts with the likes of Statoil, BG Group and BP Norge.
The company today employs about 135 people, of which more than 100 work at sea.
While the North Sea remains the main area of operation for Skansi, the company has lately been contracted to work offshore Tanzania and Mozambique.
As most of Skansi Offshore’s operations take place within the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, the Faroese people’s ability to communicate in the Norwegian language offers an advantage, CEO Jens Meinhard Rasmussen noted.
He added: “What’s more important is our people’s commitment to their work and their ability, at the same time, to be flexible when necessary.”
Charged with the task of turning what was then called Supply Service into an international, high-profile shipping company serving the offshore energy industry in the North Sea, Mr. Rasmussen — a Master Mariner with a Masters degree in Law as well — was recruited back in 2006.
“We’ve had a steep learning curve,” Mr. Rasmussen said. “We knew, however, that entering this business was not going to be too easy. So recruiting the right talent has been a top priority from the outset, and we put a lot of effort into research and made sure early that we had critical expertise in house. We were keen to see that the vessels we were building were going to be state-of-the-art, and this in turn has helped us create a high-quality concept. Part of it, of course, is meeting the latest industry standards, not least with regard to HSEQ [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][health, safety, environment, quality].”
‘Promising future’: Social responsibility has become an increasingly important aspect of the business, according to Mr. Rasmussen. “It’s a priority and part of our culture to foster economic, social and environmental sustainability,” he said.
“We are a Faroese company working in an international market. From the moment we began operations, we had a clear vision of what kind of business we wanted this to be. We had, and still have, the motivation and ambition to create opportunities in our own society; therefore we recruit locally only.
“So far we have created job opportunities and career development opportunities exclusively in the Faroes. As times change, however, we now look to apply our social responsibility strategy overseas as well. Since we were awarded with a contract from Statoil in East Africa and the opportunity presented itself, we have started to make plans to develop a Local Content Programme, which means we will help provide job training opportunities for young locals there.”
Skansi Offshore has an excellent reputation as a workplace.
HSEQ Manager Sámal Sivertsen — employed since 2008: “I like the fact that our work environment is international. As a former marine officer, finding a job on shore was not going to be easy in the Faroe Islands; but things are changing, much thanks to companies like Skansi Offshore. I find it exciting to be at the heart of the process of building the Faroese merchant shipping sector.”
Financial Manager Jógvan Emil Nielsen — employed since 2011: “This company has a very special position in the Faroes as a pioneer in its field. We are developing a new industry, which I find very exciting. As a former banker and an engineer, I enjoy to deal with people from many different countries.”
Crew Manager Anna Kalsø — employed since 2013: “I like the optimism and the exciting feeling to be on a journey to an unknown but promising future. This company is competing at a high level and growing not merely in size but certainly also in knowledge, skills and competencies.”
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