NHV Group today announced a new long-term contract with Spirit Energy to provide passenger transfer services in support of their East Irish Sea operations. The operations are expected to start in December 2020, and will be based at Blackpool (UK).  The contract is currently flown by Babcock MCS Offshore.

Spirit Energy has a group of three gas fields in the East Irish Sea – North Morecambe, South Morecambe and Rhyl – which it knows collectively as “The Morecambe Hub”. The fields lie approximately 25km south west of Walney Island, across blocks 110/2a, 110/3a, 110/8a and 113/27b, in water depths that range from 17 to 35m.

NHV’s team will fly two AW169 helicopters to support the service. NHV already gained experience with the helicopter type in Norway, where they operate the AW169 in support of the Norwegian Coastal Agency’s operations since 2017 through their Airlift subsidiary.

The first AW169 – pictured below – is currently on lease with an operator in Germany and will be transferred to the UK later this year.  A second aircraft will be arriving direct from the factory in Italy in 2021

Mike Gislam, Accountable Manager for NHV in the UK, commented: “We are honoured to be chosen aviation partner for Spirit’s East Irish Sea Operations. NHV continues to invest in fleet and training to take on unique projects just like this one. Our team is eager to deliver flexible and customer-friendly but above all safe operations. We look forward to further develop the cooperation with our client, airport and local authorities.”

This new operation will bring NHV’s UK bases to three, adding to North Sea operations from both Aberdeen and Norwich

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com