The rig company Seadrill was established in 2005 and operates worldwide. As of today, one of its installations, West Elara, has a contract on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The jack-up rig is currently concluding a contract on the Ekofisk field for ConocoPhillips and will then proceed to an assignment involving the permanent plugging of production wells in the North Sea for TotalEnergies.
Around the third quarter of 2026, West Elara will move to Equinor, where it will be used as an accommodation rig until the fourth quarter of 2027.
OFFB on duty from May
OFFB will support Seadrill’s emergency preparedness efforts and serve as the company’s 2nd line response organisation for its Norwegian Continental Shelf operations starting 1 May 2026.
“For the past 16 years, through the operating companies, we have worked closely with a number of rig companies and know the business well. However, this is the first time we welcome a company that is not an operator into the emergency response collaboration,” says OFFB Managing Director Ole Jacob Haug.
Ole Jacob Haug. Foto: Jan Inge Haga
Look forward to a long and productive collaboration
“Working with Seadrill will enhance the competence across our entire organisation. At the same time, we bring experience, expertise, and resources that will strengthen their work within emergency response and crisis management. We look forward to a long and productive collaboration with Seadrill”, Haug adds.
Per Breivik, Director of Operations at Seadrill Europe Management AS, states that the company looks forward to establishing a solid emergency response partnership with OFFB and working together on continuous improvement of emergency preparedness efforts.
Each year, OFFB plans and carries out over 100 activities for our members. 2026 is no exception. Several exercises per week have already been scheduled for the first quarter.
Varied themes
Operators in the petroleum industry are required to ensure that necessary training and exercises are conducted so that on-duty personnel are always capable of handling incidents.
“We see that our member companies are committed to exercising. But the frequency, format, and scenarios will vary,” says Trond Gleditsch, Head of Training and Exercises at OFFB.
Gleditsch has several years of experience in planning and conducting exercises and training sessions, both in the Armed Forces and for private companies.
Scenario selection — meaning the type of incident they want to train for — is often linked to different DFSAs (Defined Hazard and Accident Situations). DFSA is a key concept in risk management and emergency preparedness planning. The DFSAs within the energy and petroleum sector cover incidents with major accident potential, such as hydrocarbon leaks and well control events, in addition to personal injuries and work-related illness. (Source: Havtil.no) Source: Havtil.no )
“It may be a topic specifically related to an upcoming operation, or it may be something they haven’t exercised for in a while. In 2025, we held exercises on themes such as oil spill response and oil types, but also scenarios involving security, cyberattacks, and cooperation with other actors,” Gleditsch explains.
He highlights Harbour Energy as one of the OFFB operators that has chosen a systematic method to ensure that all on-duty personnel receive broad and regular training.
“Harbour has a series of exercises where they build on lessons learned each time. We also developed a specific exercise format where they trained on stakeholder follow-up and collaboration while an incident was unfolding. It was successful and very educational,” says Gleditsch.
In the first quarter, Harbour Energy will train on handovers between duty teams—meaning that one team comes in after a few hours and takes over incident management from the first team. This is particularly relevant for long-lasting incidents, something OFFB has its own project on through ICS training.
Read also: OFFB prepares ICS training https://offb.no/en/ics-trening-fra-juni/ OFFB prepares ICS-training
Various exercises adapted to goals and scenario
The scope of the exercise determines how many people will participate and be evaluated. The shortest exercises are so-called tabletop exercises for reviewing bridging documents, with a focus on procedures and responsibilities related to notification routines during an emergency incident.
In these exercises, the first line (platform manager) is often involved. The method is designed so that participants review the operation and planning documents together and then discuss actions and decisions based on input provided by the exercise leader.
Exercises are otherwise divided into different levels. The level indicates how many of the lines in the emergency organization participate. Level 1 means one line participates; level 2 means two lines are involved, for example second and third line.
The goal is always the same: Everyone on duty should feel confident that they can master their role.OFFB requires at least one exercise per quarter for duty personnel to remain eligible for duty.
How are exercises created?
Before the exercise, a scenario and a script are prepared reflecting the exercise goals. These go through several review stages to ensure relevance and realism.
“The scenario is often based on experience and real ‘near-miss incidents’. We want it to feel as relevant as possible,” Gleditsch says.
Those who will participate in the exercise control group or response cell are invited to a separate briefing before the exercise.
A dedicated observer closely monitors the exercise at both 2nd line (operational level) and 3rd line (strategic level). The overall goal is that the emergency organization handles the incident safely and effectively. After the exercise, observers and participants conduct a debrief. A written report summarizing key findings is also distributed afterwards.
“We have procedures and performance requirements that must be reflected in exercise objectives and thus in evaluations. The overarching goal is that everyone on duty feels confident that they can fill their role and do the job if the phone rings,” says Gleditsch.
Vår Energi produces 400,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and holds interests in 190 licenses and 42 fields in operation. As an operator, the company is responsible for operating the fields Gjøa, Duva, Balder and Ringhorne in the North Sea, Fenja in the Norwegian Sea, and Goliat in the Barents Sea.
In addition, Vår Energi is continuously carrying out a number of exploration and drilling operations from rigs located across the entire Norwegian continental shelf.
“Vår Energi is a large and important company with knowledge and experience that will make a strong contribution to the standardisation and further development of emergency preparedness cooperation, both within OFFB and on the Norwegian continental shelf,” says Ole Jacob Haug, Managing Director of OFFB.
“At the same time, OFFB has resources and expertise that will help strengthen Vår Energi in its incident management capabilities. We look forward to a long and successful collaboration,” Haug adds.
Ole Jacob Haug, Managing Director of OFFB. Photo: Jan Inge Haga/OFFB
Vår Energi will retain its own 2nd line emergency response organisation, but will now have OFFB as an important partner across a wide range of emergency response services – including training and exercises, courses, a call center for next of kin, crisis communications, and the Operator’s Centre for Evacuees and Next of Kin (OSEP).
“The new agreement means that we now have standing emergency response at all our OSEP locations throughout the year. This will benefit all our members,” says Haug.
About OFFB:
The Operator’s Association for Emergency Response (OFFB) is a user-driven, non-profit emergency response organisation operated by the companies A/S Norske Shell, Aker BP, DNO, Gassco, Harbour Energy, OKEA, Wellesley Petroleum, and now also Vår Energi.
Since its establishment in 2009, the OFFB Emergency Response Centre has provided professional 2nd line emergency response and support for strategic emergency management to its member companies and is an integrated part of their emergency response systems. In addition, OFFB serves as a resource and competence centre for all members.
OSEP-leder orienterer under øvelse i Bergen. (Foto: Pål Erland)
Text: Line Njaa Viste
It is Pål Erland, Emergency Response Manager and responsible for the Operators’ Centre for Evacuees and Next of Kin (OSEP) in OFFB, who has spearheaded the annual gatherings and exercises in Brønnøysund, Bergen and Stavanger.
OSEP-exercise in Bergen (Photo: Pål Erland)
Participants from Aker BP, OKEA, Harbour Energy, Securitas, Thon Hotel, the Centre for Crisis Psychology (KfK), the Red Cross, municipal crisis teams and the police took part.
The exercises were based on a simulated offshore incident, focusing on reception, registration and handling of evacuees. Role players—among them local Red Cross volunteers—participated to act as evacuees.
“Excellent cooperation was shown between all parties, resulting in valuable learning for everyone. Training together in ‘peacetime’ means we are all better prepared for the day a real crisis occurs,” says Erland.
First meeting during OSEP-exercise in Brønnøysund.
More about the OSEP service:
• The Operators’ Centre for Evacuees and Next of Kin (OSEP) is a place for individuals involved in an incident who have not suffered physical injuries. Here, they receive support and help, such as reunification with relatives, counselling services and care.
• OSEP also serves as a physical meeting point and support centre for next of kin who need information, help, care and counselling.
• OFFB has established OSEP in several locations along the Norwegian coast: Stavanger, Bergen, Florø, Kristiansund, Brønnøysund and Hammerfest. Each OSEP conducts exercises twice a year.
• If an incident occurs where personnel need to be transported to shore, the partner hotels will be prepared, rooms made available and necessary resources called in. Qualified personnel such as police, clergy, healthcare workers, operator representatives and other specialists will be present to take care of those affected.
STERKT FAGMILJØ: - Mange har i sine prosedyrer at de ringer oss, samme hvor de er i verden. Da vet selskapene at de får norsk standard helsehjelp. Vår erfaring er at de som bruker oss en gang, bruker oss igjen. Noe av styrken til Radio Medico er at vi er vant til å sette oss inn i veldig ulik kompetanse og å løse evakueringsmulighetene der det trengs – når det trengs, sier Jon Magnus Haga, her med kollega Cesilie Tveit. Foto: Line Njaa Viste
Text: Line Njaa Viste
On September 2, 2024, Radio Medico officially became the on-duty doctor service provider for OFFB members, including responsibility for on-duty services within the petroleum industry on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The service—an integrated part of the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine, under Helse Vest RHF—brings extensive experience to the role.
In 2023, they assisted 2,053 patients at sea. About 200 of them were evacuated to land.
"90 percent of the inquiries we receive can be resolved on board with the right measures. When evacuation is necessary, it is always coordinated through the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre," says Jon Magnus Haga, PhD, specialist in public health medicine and head of the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen.
Backing from Haukeland University Hospital
The Radio Medico on-duty team consists of seven qualified doctors working in rotation. Many of them have experience working at sea, and the team is composed to cover a range of medical disciplines. All on-duty doctors have undergone extensive training tailored to their roles.
“We’ve built a team that can deliver consistent quality in medical advice, while also contributing to the development of the field. It’s a great advantage that several have backgrounds from the Navy and maritime work," Haga emphasizes.
Radio Medico With roots dating back to 1923 and the early days of the telegraph, the maritime industry is well acquainted with Radio Medico, Norway’s telemedical emergency doctor service for seafarers.
The service is available 24/7, all year round, and free of charge for all seafarers, regardless of ship flag, nationality, or where in the world they are located.
Radio Medico is now an integrated part of the services offered by the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine, which is under Helse Vest RHF (the Western Norway Regional Health Authority).
In addition to the on-duty doctor, the entire Haukeland University Hospital is available for consultation when needed.
"We’re fortunate to be able to consult seamlessly. The Radio Medico on-duty doctors handle the shifts, but we have Haukeland specialists backing us," says Haga.
Photo from OFFB and Radio Medicos competence gathering in June.
Radio Medico’s on-duty doctors are available 24/7 to anyone who needs them. Calls come through Coastal Radio North or South.
Coastal Radio North or South assist in identifying the vessel and setting up the communication with the doctor.
Comprehensive Integration Program
Radio Medico has exstensive experience in training maritime and offshore doctors. To further understand the oil and gas industry and how OFFB's second-line emergency response operates, all the on-duty doctors participated in exercises hosted by OFFB last autumn.
There have also been professional development days involving Radio Medico, Coastal Radio North, and Coastal Radio South. A visit to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre was also part of the program for all the on-duty doctors.
Best Possible Onboard Healthcare
Jon Magnus Haga emphasizes the ability to consult with relevant expert environments in a seamless manner and underlines Radio Medico’s commitment to continuing to build a strong professional team.
"Through our work, we can foster specialization within public health medicine," says Haga.
Pictured, back row from left: Kristoffer Enge (on-duty doctor), OFFB Chief of Staff Kim Sviland, and Radio Medico Section Head/Chief Physician Jon Magnus Haga.
Front row from left: OFFB Head of Planning and Emergency Response Ann Christin Auestad, OFFB Managing Director Ole Jacob Haug, on-duty doctor Leni Johannesen, Clinic Director Alf Henrik Andreassen, and on-duty doctor Marit Grønning.
– A Meaningful Mission
Ingeborg Ribe has been part of the Radio Medico on-duty team since November last year. She is a general practitioner and splits her time between the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine and one day a week at a general practice clinic in Bergen.
Ribe says stepping into the on-duty role has gone smoothly. She received thorough training. and participated in a full-day exercise organized by OFFB for Harbour Energy in June.
"Radio Medico is a very rewarding part of my job. I find it meaningful and interesting to be in contact with nurses on offshore installations and to be involved in treating patients offshore. I get to combine my expertise in general and emergency medicine, and it’s worked very well to coordinate with helicopters and get patients to land. I’ve had many positive experiences as part of the on-duty team and look forward to continuing my shifts," says Ribe.
Quality as a Top Priority
For many years, OFFB operated a decentralized on-duty doctor system with local presence along the coast.
In recent years, however, telemedicine, new technology, and increased healthcare competence offshore have enabled smarter and more efficient solutions.
In practice, it is no longer relevant to dispatch doctors from heliports on short notice.
Instead, offshore workers are cared for directly by offshore nurses, in dialogue with on-duty doctors onshore—and flown directly to hospital by helicopter when needed.
The centralized on-duty doctor system with Radio Medico is thoroughly developed and complies with the guidelines in "Offshore Norge 014 – Recommended guidelines for medical professional preparedness for actitivites on the Norwegian Continental Shelf" (updated in 2021). It is also medically grounded in accordance with the Norwegian Activities Regulation.
A More Robust Service
OFFB’s Managing Director, Ole Jacob Haug, underlines that the goal of the change was to offer a more robust service, where focused work on continuous improvement within a strong professional environment raises the quality for operators on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
"But we also gave something up. Centralization means we no longer have doctors available to show up at heliports in the evenings to escort people to the emergency clinic for less urgent issues. However, personnel sent to shore will still experience good follow-up through our OSEP system," says Haug.
A Future-Oriented Service
"We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Radio Medico and Helse Vest RHF (the Western Norway Regional Health Authority) in delivering this vital service to our members and everyone working offshore. Through this agreement, everyone gains access to a robust, modern, and medically sound on-duty doctor system that safeguards life and health in an excellent way," Haug adds.
Student Johannes Skjæveland Eide sammen med stabsleder og veileder i OFFB, Kim Sviland.
Text and photo: Line Viste
Johannes Skjæveland Eide is a paramedic and is now studying for a Master’s degree in Risk Analysis with a focus on risk governance at the University of Stavanger. During a visit to OFFB arranged by his student association, he spoke with Head of Planning and Emergency Response, Ann Christin Auestad, and Chief of Staff, Kim Sviland, about the possibility of gaining practical experience in emergency response work.
That opportunity came this autumn through the course “Practical Training in Risk Analysis.” The goal is to connect academic studies with the professional job market.
“To truly understand the core of applied risk, it’s a clear advantage to get experience from a company. This is a unique opportunity to see how risk assessments are actually carried out in practice,” says Johannes Skjæveland Eide.
Close to Valuable Expertise
The student has now been working with us full-time for five weeks and has used the time to get familiar with how an emergency response organization is structured and operates. He has gained insight into how cooperation agreements, training, exercises, and operational response are set up and is already involved in planning an exercise with a strong focus on injury to personel. In the exercise planning, he draws on both theoretical knowledge and experience from his previous education and work as a paramedic.
“Having worked on the tactical level as a paramedic, it’s interesting to now be working more on the operational level while being close to experts in these fields. At OFFB, I really get to use both the ‘nerdy’ analytical side and the hands-on operational side of crisis management,” he says.
The master's student has had varied workdays, where he has contributed to, among other things, the planning of exercises
At OFFB, several staff members have education and long experience in risk-related work, but apply it in different ways within their specific areas of expertise. Eide highlights this as one of the most exciting and educational aspects of being at OFFB.
“Here, you have people with expertise in everything from healthcare to well control, ICT, and strategic crisis communication with media handling. It’s really exciting to see how risk is assessed and managed at the frontlines,” says Eide.
"Why Do You Think Emergency Response Is Important in 2025?"
“I don’t really think the specific year matters. Emergency response is a fundamental value. It’s often said that the first sign of civilization is the healed remains of a broken bone. At its core, emergency response is about safety and trust between people,” the student reflects.
A Relationship of Mutual Dependence
At the University of Stavanger (UiS), they are also pleased with the collaboration.
“Risk and safety as a field at UiS is in many ways closely tied to practice. The master’s programs in Risk and Societal Safety at UiS provide a solid foundation for participating in, shaping, and developing future society from a sustainable, climate-friendly, and safety-conscious perspective,” says Professor Bjørn Ivar Kruke from the Faculty of Science and Technology.
He emphasizes that the relevance of risk and safety education at UiS depends on close contact with the field of practice. Therefore, opportunities for both students and academic staff to engage in professional discussions and exchanges with actors working in risk, safety, and response are crucial for academic development.
“At the same time, a lot of learning also happens in the field of practice, where academia can contribute with new perspectives. In that way, there is a mutual dependency between academia and the field. When theory and practice go ‘hand in hand,’ they complement each other in a meaningful way. Opportunities for this type of exchange arise when practitioners open their doors to students writing bachelor’s and master’s theses, as well as for internships in relevant safety and response organizations,” says Kruke.
That’s something OFFB’s Head of Planning and Emergency response, Ann Christin Auestad, wholeheartedly agrees with.
“It’s important for us at OFFB to stay connected to the academic community and not just focus on the operational side. It’s healthy for us as an organization to be observed with fresh eyes and to be challenged. I also think it’s valuable for students to get an inside look at all the different activities that goes on in an emergency response organization,” says Auestad, adding that it’s especially positive when students are proactive and dare to contribute ideas—something Eide has already shown he’s willing to do.
A six-week break from the internship at OFFB is now approaching. During this time, Johannes will be heading to Svalbard to attend the course “Emergency Response and Response in the Arctic” at UNIS – The University Centre in Svalbard.
“I think the stay in Svalbard will be both exciting and educational. Overall, I believe this semester will be extremely valuable for me. Industry experience is incredibly valuable, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have my internship at OFFB,” says Johannes Skjæveland Eide.
Visitors to OFFB often ask about the names of our meeting rooms; Anita, Siri, Randi, and Eva. And yes, they are named after people.
"It had to be that way. They really deserve the credit for OFFB’s existence," says OFFB’s managing director, Ole Jacob Haug.
15 Years on duty It’s been 15 years since the first OFFB on-duty team was placed on emergency standby for the drilling of the Fogelberg exploration well using the West Alpha rig in the North Sea. The company was called Centrica at the time. Together with Revus (which became Wintershall during the process) and Det Norske, they were the first full-fledged OFFB member companies.
Utseth, Nesbø, Morvik, and Fagernes know the story of how the Norwegian Operators’ Emergency Preparedness Association (OFFB) came to be well. They helped create it. It all began back in 2007.
Part of the backdrop was the exploration tax refund scheme introduced by the Norwegian government in the early 2000s. This led to a significant increase in exploration activity and the emergence of many small companies—commonly referred to as "oil mosquitoes"—on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Anita Utseth realized that a more professional emergency preparedness organization was necessary when the small company she worked for, Pertra, experienced a production riser failure on the Varg field—in the middle of the Christmas party season.
"That’s when we understood that we weren’t well equipped for emergency response, and that a semi-professional second line just wasn’t enough. It was also a poor solution that the management teams received phone calls in the middle of a wine bottle on Friday nights," says Utseth.
At that time, Morvik worked at Revus—one of the "oil mosquitoes" that also saw the value in collaborating on a shared preparedness organization.
"It was my boss at the time, Ellen Braune, who gave me the assignment to find out if this was feasible. I knew very little about emergency preparedness back then. Luckily, I found great collaborators at OLF (now Offshore Norway). They asked us to conduct a feasibility study. That’s when the ball started rolling," Morvik recalls.
Siri Nesbø was HSE Manager at Centrica at the time and also became central to OFFB’s early development.
"The start-up was demanding, and I never dreamed it would become the success it has," says Nesbø.
Randi Morvik, Siri Nesbø, Eva Fagernes and Anita Utseth have left a clear mark on OFFB.
Thinking Big OLF (now called Offshore Norge), and especially Ove Haugen, was an important supporter. Once the project group received the green light that a joint emergency response center was realistic, the hunt began for companies willing to commit as members. Several companies showed interest, but finding those with concrete drilling plans and long-term commitment was a major task.
"The working title was National Emergency Response Center, so we were thinking big. Randi, Siri, and I fought our way into executive meetings to sell the message. During that time, we talked to each other constantly. I’ve never felt more like a salesperson than I did then," says Utseth.
Even without a large operating company that could ensure stable activity, they managed to establish a financing model.
"That was a milestone that showed we could succeed with our project," they say.
"We were all actively involved in shaping the organization, and I believe I participated in every single job interview for the original 15 hires, Utseth says.
The first employee was Ole Jacob Haug, who has been the general manager since the beginning and has played a key role in building the organization and developing it into what it is today.
“Getting the right people on board was crucial. Everyone who joined from the start took a bit of a risk. Three dry wells—and that could have been the end of it, even though we firmly believed the project had long-term potential," Utseth continues.
The risk paid off—for both operators and employees.
Since its inception, OFFB has provided emergency response services for more than 200 exploration and production wells—as well as for numerous production platforms, subsea installations, pipelines, and onshore facilities, across around 40 different operator companies.
Built on Volunteer Spirit At its founding, OFFB had three regular member companies and four associate members. OFFB was established as a non-profit and moved into the top floor at Koppholen 19 in Forus. Randi Morvik (Revus/Wintershall), Siri Nesbø (Centrica), and Anita Utseth (Det norske) formed the original board.
Later, Eva Fagernes (Gaz de France) and Arild Thorsrud (Rocksource) joined the board. Bridge Energy, Discover Petroleum, EON, and OMV were associate members.
General Manager Ole Jacob Haug (center) together with Randi Morvik (left), Eva Fagernes, Anita Utseth and Siri Nesbø in OFFB's situation room, which is an important part of our premises at Forus.
Eva Fagernes had also been involved early in the project through her position as HSE Manager at Gaz de France and returned when the company was preparing to start operations at Gjøa. She believes OFFB is a great example of the strength of the Norwegian model — where companies cooperate when it makes sense, for the common good.
"The project to create a shared emergency response center was rooted in volunteer spirit, with a strong focus on professionalism. The idea was that people who work with this continuously become truly skilled—and that’s key to building resilience. It also enhances competitiveness. I still think a shared emergency response center is a fantastic idea," says Fagernes.
Comeback as Chief of Staff Morvik served nine years on OFFB’s board and at times acted as chairperson. The OFFB project was the start of a new career direction in emergency preparedness for her. For several years, she led crisis and emergency work at what was then Wintershall and Wintershall Dea. The company is now called Harbour Energy and remains a key OFFB member.
Shortly after accepting an early retirement package, Morvik realized she wasn’t done with work—or emergency response. She reached out, humbly, to OFFB’s managing director Ole Jacob Haug to ask if there were any opportunities to contribute.
"Pretty quickly, I got a part-time job as Chief of Staff. I love it. I look forward to work and feel energized being here with so many skilled and kind people," says Morvik.
Just as We Envisioned – and Even Better All four of the “meeting room women” believe OFFB has truly lived up to its purpose and original intention—a unique collaboration across companies.
They particularly highlight the creation of the Competence Center with tailored courses for members, professional forums as well as the strong member networks and active sharing of experience.
Managing Director Ole Jacob Haug received a wonderful visit from the four people behind the original idea for the workplace he has built.
Utseth, Fagernes, Nesbø, and Morvik are happy to have witnessed the oil companies taking emergency response and preparedness more seriously—both operationally and strategically.
"They’ve understood how important this is, and OFFB gives the companies the emergency confidence we hoped it would. We think it’s both fun and impressive to see what kind of workplace OFFB has become. Credibility and engagement—from authorities, universities, and the energy sector in general—show that OFFB is a significant player. We’re simply proud of what this has become."
"It’s kind of fun that we’ve left our mark here," the four say, as they inspect their respective meeting rooms.
Felles situasjonsforståelse: Beredskapshåndtering krever et godt samspill, både mellom 1., 2. og 3. linje, og internt i beredskapslaget. Fra venstre: Informasjonskoordinator Ruben Hakin, personellkoordinator Marianne Hagen, stabsleder Yrjan Bamberg og logistikkoordinator Pål Skeggs.
Yrjan Bamberg successfully completed his check-out exercise on April 29, 2025, earning a "pass" and officially joining the duty rotation as one of six 2nd-line Chiefs of Staff.
Bamberg began his role at OFFB on January 2, 2025, having previously served as a Project Manager at Canon Norway. Prior to that, he held various positions at Avarn Security Norway and Securitas Norway, and spent over six years in the Armed Forces, where he served as a sergeant in the electronic warfare division.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in digital forensics and, in addition to his role as Chief of Staff in the 2nd line, serves as OFFB’s Subject Matter Expert for ICT and Cyber Security. This responsibility also includes acting as a resource for OFFB’s member companies in these areas.
Comprehensive Training Programme
“All newly appointed Chiefs of Staff and Emergency Response Managers at OFFB undergo a thorough training programme. This includes an in-depth introduction to our operational plans, familiarization with the operators we support, current operations, and our systems — including CIM and best practices for incident management,” says Trond Gleditsch, Head of Training and Exercises at OFFB.
Close Coordination: As a 2nd line Chief of Staff, Yrjan Bamberg is primarily responsible for liaising with the 1st line. The 1st line is often located offshore, and maintaining clear communication is essential. Emergency Response Manager Trond Gleditsch (left) holds overall responsibility for 2nd line operations and liaises with the strategic level in the 3rd line.
The training programme includes several functional training sessions, during which Bamberg completed the tasks outlined in various best practices.
He then participated in five exercises, initially shadowing experienced Chiefs of Staff to observe how they carried out their responsibilities. Afterward, the roles were reversed — Bamberg took the lead role, while the seasoned Chiefs of Staff acted as observers and mentors.
The final exam exercise was conducted with a full 2nd line duty team and a reinforced acting staff, including an experienced platform manager who presented Bamberg with a realistic incident scenario to manage.
No Shortcuts Taken
Throughout the entire exercise, Bamberg was closely observed and assessed by Head of Planning and Emergency Response, Ann Christin Auestad, and Managing Director Ole Jacob Haug.
A passing result is never guaranteed. If any aspect falls short, further training is required. In the emergency response room, the mission is to protect life and health, the environment, and significant material assets. That’s why we take no shortcuts and never compromise on quality or safety.
Authority Coordinator Ann Elin Solbu is responsible for maintaining communication with relevant authorities such as the police and the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority during an incident. She receives regular updates from the Chief of Staff to ensure that the flow of information remains consistent and timely.
Emergency Preparedness Is a Discipline That Requires Maturity
“This time, the training period lasted a little over four months. We could have completed it in a shorter time. However, emergency response is a discipline that requires maturity. It’s important to allow enough time for reflection and to truly internalize what’s being learned,” says Gleditsch.
Bamberg agrees.
“Oil and gas is a completely new field for me, and there’s a lot to get familiar with — including a very specific terminology. I find it incredibly engaging.”
“In addition to the skilled colleagues I work with every day here at OFFB, I really value the dialogue with the offshore installation managers on the installations we’re actually on call for. The combination of training, exercises, education, and ongoing dialogue gives me a strong sense of readiness for managing real incidents when the duty phone rings,” says Yrjan.
Beredskapskonferansen er et samarbeid mellom Havindustritilsynet, Operatørenes forening for beredskap (OFFB), Offshore Norge, fagforbundet Styrke og Kystverket.
Siden oppstarten har konferansen vært Norges viktigste arena for erfaringsutveksling og samarbeid om beredskapsspørsmål for alle partene i arbeidslivet – inkludert myndigheter, arbeidstakere og arbeidsgivere i offentlige og private virksomheter, fagorganisasjoner, politi, forsvar og akademia.
Bakteppet for årets Beredskapskonferanse er den alvorlige sikkerhetspolitiske situasjonen i Europa og Norges rolle som en sikker energileverandør, forteller Erling Holmefjord i Styrke, som sammen med daglig leder i OFFB, Ole Jacob Haug, leder programkomiteen til konferansen.
Konferansen sparkes i gang med beredskapsdebatt arrangert av Proactima tirsdag 13. mai klokken 19, og fortsetter med én og en halv dags program onsdag 14. og torsdag 15. mai. Hovedtemaene er Totalforsvaret, beredskap og kapasiteter i det maritime domenet og økt aktivitet i nord.
– Vi er svært fornøyde med å ha fått med oss sterke beredskaps- og sikkerhetseksperter fra en rekke av de ledende olje- og gasselskapene, Statsforvalteren i Rogaland, Havindustritilsynet, Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB), Kystverket, Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste (PST), akademia og næringslivet som foredragsholdere, sier Holmefjord.
– Vi har også med oss en rekke utstillere og sponsorer som gjør det mulig å skape denne viktige møteplassen, fortsetter han.
Parallelt med Beredskapskonferansen gjennomføres Informasjonssikkerhetskonferansen, som er en årlig nasjonal for ledere og brukere av digitale sikkerhetssystemer, kommunikasjonsverktøy og automatiseringsløsninger fra alle deler av næringslivet.
– I år er det et spesielt fokus på beskyttelse av industrisystemer, it-trusler og kunstig intelligens, sier Holmefjord.
Fjorårets konferanser samlet 300 personer på Clarion Hotel Air på Sola. Den sikkerhetspolitiske situasjonen gjør at beredskap er i vinden som aldri før og det foregår mange konferanser og samlinger på alle nivå – over hele landet.
Holmefjord og Haug er likevel ikke i tvil om at Beredskapskonferansen og Informasjonssikkerhetskonferansen fyller en viktig rolle:
– Konferansene og den unike møteplassen er viktigere enn noen gang, sier Ole Jacob Haug.
Emergency preparedness work on the Norwegian Continental Shelf is based on a proactive approach and a well-established division of responsibilities between the tactical level in the first line, the operational level in the second line, and the strategic level in the third line.
This structure ensures effective handling of all emergency situations, from unwanted incidents such as personal injuries and vessels on a collision course to more prolonged events like oil spills.
However, when incidents grow in scale and duration, it becomes necessary to transition management and planning to a project organization tailored to the specific situation.
Common System, Shared Resource Pool
Oil spill response operations fall into this category. Operators on the Norwegian Continental Shelf already collaborate closely through NOFO (Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies) and recognize the great value of supporting each other with personnel and expertise – both domestically and internationally.
Chief of Staff Thea Blume, Chief of Staff Yrjan Bamberg and Emergency Response Manager Magnus Klem Husebye.
For this reason, operators have agreed on a shared management system for handling oil spill response operations, known as the Incident Command System (ICS). Each company has also committed to providing a number of trained specialists who can be made available to support one another in case of an emergency.
OFFB has contingency plans that ensure a smooth transition from a line organization to ICS and regularly conducts courses through its Competence Center.
Training Necessary to Maintain Competence
The methodology is also tested in major exercises, such as Exercise Draugen with OKEA and Exercise Tveegg with Aker BP. However, experience shows that these types of exercises require significant effort to prepare and execute. OFFB recognizes the need to establish a new training program.
Read also: OFFB prepares ICS training https://offb.no/en/ics-trening-fra-juni/ Exercise Draugen
Trond Gleditsch, Head of Training and Exercises at OFFB.
Therefore, we are now preparing ICS training for personnel who have completed the ICS 100, ICS 200, and ICS 300 courses and need to maintain their competence.
The training sessions will span three days and include theoretical refreshers and role-specific training within the organization’s planning cycle – under expert guidance from trained emergency response personnel in OFFB’s organization.
- The training sessions are open to all OFFB members. The first session will take place from June 17–19, with additional sessions scheduled for September and November 2025, says Trond Gleditsch, Head of Training and Exercises at OFFB.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
