The Hugin B superstructure departed from the Aker Solutions yard in Verdal bound for the Yggdrasil area in the Norwegian North Sea. The departure marks the closure of an extensive portfolio of work executed for Aker BP over the past three and a half years.
Furthermore, the delivery consolidates a sequence of offshore projects linked to Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris, two key developments for oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf. Four steel structures and two superstructures destined for these assets have been dispatched from Verdal.
An Offshore Portfolio with Strong Regional Impact
The activity in Verdal generated approximately 3,500 man-years of work and enabled the participation of more than 130 apprentices since 2022. For Aker BP, this result confirms the yard’s role as a relevant industrial center for complex offshore energy projects.
Likewise, the delivery sequence demonstrates the Norwegian supply chain’s capacity to sustain fabrication, assembly, and maritime departure of large components within tight schedules. In June 2024, the Fenris structure and the pre-drilling module departed. These were followed by Valhall PWP, Hugin A, and finally Hugin B.
Yggdrasil Advances with Key Components
The Yggdrasil area was approved for development following the final investment decision made by Aker BP and its partners Equinor and PGNiG Upstream Norway in December 2022. Since then, the project has advanced through coordinated deliveries of jackets, modules, and superstructures.
Now, the Hugin B superstructure is heading to its final destination to be integrated into the offshore installation scheme. This type of maneuver requires logistical coordination, availability of maritime weather windows, and precision in the offshore assembly sequence.
The Alliance Model Sustains Execution
The portfolio was executed through industrial alliances. Aker BP, ABB, and Aker Solutions participate in the Valhall PWP and Fenris installations, while Aker BP, Aker Solutions, and Siemens Energy are involved in Hugin A and Hugin B for Yggdrasil.
In total, more than 42,000 tons were delivered from the Verdal yard. The figure reflects the program’s scale and the weight of collaboration among operator, technology suppliers, and engineering contractors.
Robotics, Digital Tools, and New Competencies
The magnitude of these projects also drove investments in competencies, robotics, and digital tools. For Aker Solutions, this type of improvement strengthens the competitiveness of the Norwegian industry against future opportunities in offshore energy.
For its part, the participation of apprentices adds a strategic component: training industrial talent while executing projects of great technical complexity. This balance between productivity and training will be key to sustaining new value chains in the region.
A Key Delivery for the Norwegian North Sea
With the departure of Hugin B, Aker BP completes a relevant onshore fabrication phase before advancing with offshore installation. The operation reinforces the development of Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris in a context where energy security maintains high priority for Norway and Europe.
Source and photo: Aker BP
