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og scrapbøger fra ESVAGTs arkiv. Desuden er anvendt
diverse årgange af ESVAGT-Nyt.
7. Interviews med Ole Andersen, Kent Kirk, Henning G.
Kruse og Ovin Carlsson, arkivmateriale og scrapbøger fra
ESVAGTs arkiv samt diverse årgange af ESVAGT-Nyt.
8. Danmarks Skibsliste. Officiel fortegnelse over danske
skibe med kendingssignaler, diverse årgange. Til brug for
afsnittet samt tilhørende oversigt over ESVAGT-flåden er
skibslistens oplysninger suppleret via interviews med Ole
Andersen, Kent Kirk, Henning G. Kruse og Ovin Carlsson
samt arkivmateriale, flådelister og scrapbøger fra ESVAGTs
arkiv.
9. Afsnittet bygger på interviews med Ovin Carlsson, Ole
Ditlev Nielsen, Nicolai Nicolaisen, Anette Sørensen og
Jenny Knudsen samt Personalehåndbog ESVAGT. Safety
at Sea - Skibspersonel og ESVAGT. International Offshore
Support Vessel Operators.
10. Jydske Vestkysten 4-3-2006.
11. Dette og de følgende afsnit om redningsaktioner er
baseret på interviews med Ovin Carlsson, Ole Ditlev
Nielsen, Nicolai Nicolaisen og Hans Andreasen. Desuden
diverse scrapbøger og andet materiale fra ESVAGT.
12. Vestkysten 30-4/1-5-1983.
13. Afsnittet bygger på interviews ned Ovin Carlsson,
Ole Ditlev Nielsen, Anette Sørensen og Jenny Knudsen.
Desuden ESVAGT. International Offshore Support Vessel
Operators samt diverse materiale fra ESVAGT.
Summary
When the offshore sector took off in Esbjerg, a number of
companies arose in its wake. One of these companies was the
standby-vessel company ESVAGT, which was established
in 1981 to offer standby-vessel and other services to the
offshore installations in the North Sea. The company
was founded by Ole Andersen, Kent Kirk and Henning
G. Kruse, all with backgrounds in maritime activities at
Esbjerg harbour. ESVAGT’s first ships were two converted
trawlers, and former fishermen and men from the coaster
fleet were hired to crew the ships. A/S Em.Z. Svitzer also
offered a standby-vessel service in 1982, and a partnership
was established between the two independent companies,
which merged in 1991 under the name ESVAGT A/S. After
the merger, the company had 10 ships.
From the beginning, ESVAGT’s biggest client was DUC,
butnewclientsweregraduallyobtainedviainitiativestargeted
at potential customers in other areas and the introduction
of a number of additional services. ESVAGT is now active
throughout the North Sea, apart from its standby-vessel
service, also offering such services as action in the event of
oil spills, handling of offshore loading systems, underwater
inspection, surveying, towing and supply services. Attempts
are constantly being made to improve the equipment in use
and to develop new products such as carrying straps and
transport baskets for the transfer of personnel. Attempts are
also constantly being made to improve safety, and the staff
are given regular in-service training.
The crews on the standby-vessels are out for 16 days
at a time. When the crew is to be changed, the new crew
sails out to the ship and is transferred in a fast rescue boat,
which also fetches the old crew. The use of fast rescue boats
for this purpose is one of ESVAGT’s special characteristics,
and regular training ensures that the crews on the company’s
ships are well versed in the use of these small fast vessels.
The crew members on board ESVAGT’s ships each have
their fixed duties and rosters in accordance with their
functions as navigator, engineer, ship’s assistant or cook.
Apart from regular maintenance of the ship, the daily
duties depend on the individual ship’s facilities and the
client’s requirements. These may, for example, be to keep
an eye on people working on the platforms, to tow floating
objects away, to transport goods and people between the
installations and to assist with the moving of rigs.
Given their constant presence at sea, ESVAGT’s vessels
are often the closest available when other vessels are in
distress. ESVAGT has helped with many rescues, and since
1983 has rescued a total of 114 people.
In 2006, ESVAGT had 20 ships and a staff of almost
400. Given the company’s expanded duties, its motto was
changed from the previous “Safety at Sea” to “Safety and
Support at Sea”.