Record £330m contract secures North Sea jobs
BP’s deal with PSN safeguards 400 posts
Hundreds of North Sea jobs will be sustained as a result of energy service company PSN winning a record £330million longterm contract with BP.
It is the first of a number of large packages of work that BP expects to dole out over the next few weeks.
The total value of the contracts will be around £1billion and will underline the supermajor’s ongoing commitment to the North Sea.
In PSN’s case, the fiveyear deal – plus options – for engineering and construction support services will safeguard about 400 jobs on and offshore.
It builds on an existing relationship between BP and PSN, which shared a previous contract with fellow Aberdeen company Wood Group.
Around 200 Wood Group workers will move across to PSN under the new deal.
The Press and Journal understands that PSN will not use the transfer as an opportunity to drive down wages.
Chris Taylor, PSN’s UK human resources manager, said: "The company’s intention is to transfer all employees on their current arrangements."
"Our goal will be to achieve a smooth, seamless transition that removes any of the uncertainties for Wood Group employees affected by this."
PSN chief executive Bob Keiller said: "This contract award is a step change for PSN. It is the largest single contract we have ever been awarded."
"It is a great vote of confidence in the hard work and commitment of the PSN team that a relationship with BP dating back to the 1970s has been extended to 2014 and beyond."
Contracts still to be awarded by BP include: engineering and construction; platform drilling services; offshore and onshore maintenance; platform services; plus subsea construction, inspection, repair and maintenance.
It is understood that other North Sea operators have similar longterm contracts packages in preparation and that these too will be rolled out over the next few weeks and months.
Original source : Jeremy Cresswell
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