Scandinavian countries are looking at maritime solutions to the growing refugee crisis flooding the continent. Norway has followed neighbour Sweden’s lead with its immigration department seeking tenders for floating accommodation units for refugees, a potential saviour for many hard-pressed Norwegian offshore players.
The immigration department has received 27 bids from floating accommodation providers normally working with the oil and wind industries and from cruiseships.
Local coastal municipalities and port authorities – including Oslo – have been asked to help out too. The government is looking for ships and barges with more than 200 beds that they will charter on one year contracts. Up to ten providers will be selected.
Sweden came out with a similar tender two days ago, asking for bids, which could include rigs, by December 3.
It will be interesting to see if this really materializes as the costs are tenfold to land based accommodation. We have been contacted by many to supply ships (from Sweden & Norway) but nobody has the money to finance the mobilization and delivery costs prior the charter and provide financial security to the vessel owners…