– Now it is time for them to actually put measures in place, says Henrik Solvorn Fjeldsbø. He is the leader of LO’s helicopter committee and federal secretary of the trade association Industry and Energy. – We clearly believe that we are forced to have a greater presence out, so it should certainly be considered whether the Coast Guard or naval vessels should be out to prevent unwanted drone incidents and possibly intervene if there is anything, says Fjeldsbø. – Do you think that there are too few of them present, as the situation is today? – With a war in Europe and the incident in the Baltic Sea, it is time to ask questions about whether we should have a greater presence, yes, he replies. – But doesn’t that lead to more fear among those who work out on the Norwegian continental shelf? – I think it will lead to more fear if we do nothing and think that we are visibly present as a nation. People say they already feel fear out there and are worried about the situation. Then it is appropriate that we strengthen preparedness now. Dozens of helicopters take off from Sola airport every week with offshore workers going to and from work in the North Sea. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news – People wonder what is happening – I think most people are aware that something can happen, as the situation is now, says Roger Hem. He has just landed at Sola airport after working on the Johan Sverdrup field in the North Sea and tells of a tense situation out on the platforms. – But you can’t go and think about it, because it is my workplace. But it is clear that it is worth talking about, says Hem. Roger Hem was at work on the Johan Sverdrup field when the authorities announced that the alert had been raised. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news Oljeselskap has increased preparedness. Several North Sea workers are worried about their safety both out at sea and on land after the leak in the Baltic Sea, which many are convinced is sabotage. Deputy manager of Safe in Equinor, Raymond Midtgård, told news. Members have contacted him after the news that the Nord Stream gas pipeline outside Denmark has been damaged. The workers have been asked to report if they see anything unusual on the shelf or at the facility on land. – If this becomes the standard, that one attacks gas pipelines, then Norway is very high on the list in Europe, says Odd Einar Olsen, professor emeritus in social security at the University of Stavanger. “Strengthening preparedness” The government has initiated measures to “step up preparedness related to infrastructure, land and installations on the Norwegian continental shelf”, as Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland told news on Tuesday evening. But what “sharp preparedness” actually means, no one will answer. news has spoken to Equinor, the Petroleum Safety Authority, Offshore Norway and the police. None of them will answer what measures are actually being introduced to strengthen preparedness. Nor will the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy answer to news what heightened preparedness actually means. They look to the Norwegian Police Directorate, which says they are in close dialogue with PST. – People get in touch and wonder what’s going on. I am generally worried about drone activity and what I see in the Baltic Sea. Then the authorities say that security must be tightened, so we wonder what is happening and what it means, says Bjørn Asle Teige. He is a group trustee in Equinor for Safe, which organizes employees in the petroleum industry. Roger Hem was at work when the authorities announced that the alert had been raised. – Did you notice anything about the heightened alertness? – No, but there was a lot of talk about it. From now on, I expect that there will be something more, he says. Sondre Kvendbø, who is on his way to the Ivar Aasen platform on Wednesday, says he tries not to think too much about what lies ahead. – I’m thinking a bit about the drones that have been on the Norwegian side, then. Now Nord Stream is a chapter of its own, but the drones we haven’t received an answer to who they are and what they want, I’m thinking about that and have it in the back of my mind, he says. Researchers at the Norwegian Defense Academy believe that Norwegian gas installations are the biggest and most important target for sabotage net no. Sondre Kvendbø, who is on his way out to the North Sea, thinks about what lies ahead. He is still not very worried. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news Investigating drone sightings Several unknown drones have been observed around oil and gas platforms in the North Sea in recent months. – It takes a lot to be able to damage platforms and that type of thing. But these drones indicate that someone is interested in having a close-up view of the structure, says Olsen. Hem works on the Johan Sverdrup field in the North Sea, where the drone observations have been much discussed among the employees. Photo: Ints Kalnin’s Roger Hem says drones have been discussed a lot recently. – Have you observed anything? – Last time I was out there were drones there. I didn’t get to see them, but heard from several people that they had. It has happened in several places. When it’s as tense as it is, you start to wonder, says Hem. The police are now investigating these cases. They will not say more than that a case has been established. – We ask for your understanding that we cannot go into details about the incidents, apart from the fact that these observations have been made over several months, writes senior adviser Linda Merethe Lie Leifsen in the Sør-West police district to news.
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North Sea workers worried about traveling offshore after the gas leak in the Baltic Sea – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
