by Atlantic Offshore | Mar 17, 2020 | News
Guidelines for crew joining or leaving the vessels in Norwegian ports
The Norwegian Government has has taken drastic action to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. These actions affect shipping to a great extent. Ships must be able to sail in order to ensure export and import of necessary goods and medicines. An important precondition to make the ships able to sail is that crew changes are carried out while the infection control measures are being observed. In the event of an infection on board or crew members working hours beyond provisions on regular working hours and rest, the ship may have to remain stationary and crew members may be dismissed.
There are new additions to the general travel restrictions on work journeys to maintain infrastructural operations.
- Work journeys maintaining a fundamental need for transport in society, e.g. shipping and other cargo transport may be carried out as smoothly as possible.
- Work journeys to maintain the production of oil and gas on the Norwegian continental shelf may be carried out as smoothly as possible.
- Port calls for ships carrying goods and supplies must be ensured.
Crew on board must be particularly vigilant with regard to infection control measures, especially by focusing on good hygiene routines.
Crew members signing off in Norway
- Crew members and other persons on board who have not had any contact with persons outside the ship, who are signing off in Norway after at least 14 days on board and who do not have any symptoms, may be regarded as not infected and do not need to be put in quarantine.
- Agents/companies shall in other cases, pending a return, make sure that local quarantine locations are established for crew not residing in Norway.
- When transport has been confirmed and it is time to return, the company will use established routines to get the relevant crew out of Norway.
Crew signing on in Norway
In order to keep ships sailing, there must be good routines to get the crew into Norway and on board the vessels.
The company must plan well and carry out good risk assessments to get the crew on board without being infected.
Updated info re. coronavirus at NMA: www.sdir.no/en/news/korona/
by Atlantic Offshore | Mar 16, 2020 | News
Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) extends the validity of personal certificates (CoP, CoC)
The validity of Norwegian Certificate of Proficiency and Certificate of Competency, are granted a general extended validity of up to 6 months. The individual seafarer will not be required to submit an application, due to challenges related to the coronavirus.
Separate guidelines for extension of Medical Certificate:
In cases where the situation with the coronavirus prevents a seafarer from renewing the Norwegian Medical Certificate,
the NMA will allow a seafarer to work with a Medical Certificate which has expired on the condition that:
– the period does not exceed 6 months, and
– the seaman holds an expired medical certificate of recent date.
For more information: www.sdir.no/en/news/news-from-the-nma/extending-the-validity-of-personal-certificates/
by Atlantic Offshore | Mar 11, 2020 | News
Wherever and whenever it operates, Atlantic Offshore seeks to set a role model example in sustainable reduction of environmental emissions and client costs. In 2018 and 2019 Ocean Art was awarded a prize from Equinor as the most fuel-efficient PSV in their operation.

Master Tor Caspersen accepting prize on behalf of the vessel and crew, handed out by Helge Såtendal and Frida Ekløf Monstad from Equinor. (Photo: Equinor)
In 2010 the company started to design and build new tonnage with an eye to the future. As responsible ship owners and managers the company has a duty to act to reduce environmental emissions, to demonstrate leadership and to play our part in creating a cleaner world for our shareholders and stakeholders. This started with the more fuel efficient and environmentally focused design of vessels and has now, in 2020, translated into a group wide change in culture embracing, defining and utilising technology as well as recognising the importance of human behaviours to help it to deliver tangible proof of delivery.
‘Walking the talk,’ we are committed to driving change no matter whether that is providing seamless vessel shore power connections enabling zero emissions in port or investing in the latest hybrid propulsion systems, reducing CO2 emissions by 15% and fuel consumption by 30%. The company is actively sharing lessons learned across the group so that our customers can benefit from all that we do.
Atlantic Offshore. Powered by passion, driven by safety and proud of what we are doing to help our environment.