Wednesday 6th. of December 2006:

EPISTLE:

So… it finally ended. The contract between Acergy-Subsea7-Jont-Venture (AS7JV) and Statoil lasted for more than 7 years.
When I first heard that the Client had terminated the contract with us I was shocked and very disappointed, a state of mind I believe my colleges shared with me. In the weeks after we got "the message" I felt the motivation among the crew onboard the vessel dropped below zero. But after a while it was increasing to a higher level than ever before. I believe the motivation now was to create a tremendous vacuum to the time after we've left…?

We learnt a lot during these years "swimming" around the various Statoil installations, and after a couple of years we started to collect "records". The good thing about this, from my point of view, was the synergistic effects these records created. Soon each and everyone onboard started to think towards breaking our own records witch I believe created the outstanding work- and collegial-environment. If there came something bad out of it, it's the extreme expectation it created. And in a situation with extreme expectations you can never win…

During one of the last trips onboard the Viking Poseidon one of the Client reps came over to me and said among other things: "It is always painful to change subcontractor". Well, that I can understand. I hope end believe the vacuum is already there ;-)
Just after the announcement of the contract termination another Client rep expressed him self like this:
"No one at my office could believe that you've lost the contract, since wee strongly recommended that the Poseidon crew should commence the contract on a new vessel due to the tremendous amount of intellectual capital among the crew members onboard:"
Well, I can understand the lack on understanding regarding that statement too.
But I've learnt that when it comes to this specific contract, money talks and knowledge walks.
We are living in innovative times, and then it's a must that you always can adapt to the surroundings.
It doesn't mean that it's comfortable…

I hereby want to thank the crew onboard the Viking Poseidon - both Eidesvik and AS7JV - for an outstanding work performance during these years! Thanks a lot for nice friendship and humor!
Remember that breaking "your own records" is what really counts, since you always can carry them with you for as long as you want ;-)

Thanks to the AS7JV onshore project organization for good procedures, support and follow-up. Special thanks to the project engineers who has helped us with everything from calculations, construction and mob / demobilization's.

I also want to bring my thanks to Statoil! Its been interesting times, and I've learnt a lot during these years!
Special thanks to the Client reps for close and good teamwork.

Until next time…!