Versatile offshore vessel, the mighty Edda Fjord, called at Penno's for crew change

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18: When she was built 10 years ago the Edda Fjord was the biggest offshore supply vessel in the world.

Today her onboard crane, heliport and pristine interior still make her one of the most versatile, not to mention luxurious, ships to support the thousands of oil platforms that dot the globe.

She doesn’t just ferry in supplies for the rigs, she often acts as a ‘flotel’, or floating hotel to the scores of people that upgrade and work on the ocean platforms.

Last week Edda Fjord arrived in Penno’s Wharf in St George’s for a quick crew change on her way to Mexico where she will be positioned next to a rig for 250 days.

The predominantly Norwegian crew arrived on Thursday morning after completing the two-week transatlantic journey from Denmark and left for Louisiana after the new crew flew into the island on Friday evening.

Captain Havard Melvaer was joined by his 10-year-old son, Matias, and his mother on the voyage from Denmark to Bermuda.

He said: “On the journey from Denmark the crew was joined by seven family members altogether.

“There were some wives and girlfriends on board as well as my son and my mother. It was a great chance for our families to see where we work.

“The journey was pretty calm to start off with but we did hit some bad weather after the Azores.

“Some of the guests did get a little sea sick, but my son seemed to handle it very well. He must be born for this kind of thing!”

All seven guests along with five crew members, including Captain Malvaer, got off Edda Fjord in Bermuda, while five new crewmen joined the ship.

The skipper will return to the vessel after a five-week holiday once she is in place in the Gulf of Mexico.

He said: “Most of the crew work on a five-week rotation. I am on a back-to-back rota with the other captain and will take over from him at the end of next month.

“In the mean time I am looking forward to a short holiday in Bermuda before heading home to Norway.”

Edda Fjord will stop briefly in Louisiana to pick up an ‘accommodation module’ before heading south to her assigned platform which is 80 miles off the Mexican coast.

The vessel will then be attached to the rig and used as a ‘flotel’ for just over 100 workers.

Extra catering staff will be called into cook for the influx of passengers, while new crew will be flown onto the ship by helicopter when they have finished their rotation.

Captain Melvaer added: “Edda Fjord is a very cosy ship and the quality of the food on board is like a restaurant.

“We have two gyms for the crew to keep fit and nice spacious cabins that have their own bathroom and bedroom.

“It’s like a second home for me. We have everything we need on board.”

Elsewhere in Bermuda this week there’s the usual cruise liners and container ships along with a couple of tankers.

The Nord Princess left the Oil Docks in St George’s on Monday after bringing in fuel for Esso.

While the Oder Gas is due to head into the same location tomorrow to supply LPG for the island.

The French Naval vessel La Tapaguese left St George’s yesterday after arriving slightly behind schedule on Saturday.

Today sees the Norwegian Star and Celebrity Summit come into Dockyard, while the Somers Isles comes into Hamilton.

Tomorrow the Bermuda Islander arrives in the capital and this weekend three cruise ships; Explorer of the Seas, Norwegian Dawn and Enchantment of the Seas, arrive in the West End.

Finally the Oleander should be in on Sunday afternoon.