Workers returning to Ninian Southern platform

CNR International (UK) Limited has started the re-manning process at Ninian Southern platform in the UK North Sea, following the precautionary down-man of the platform last week.

To remind, workers were last week evacuated from the Ninian Southern platform located 240 miles from Aberdeen ahead of the Storm Caroline.

CNR International has been carrying out remedial work on the platform’s jacket structure through the summer after a defect was identified during routine monitoring and inspection. As a precaution ahead of the storm, the company last week decided to shut down production on the platform and fully down-man it.

On Tuesday, CNR said that a detailed inspection of the jacket structure has been completed by Remotely Operated Vehicle Survey Vessel (ROVSV), concluding that the jacket has not suffered any damage as a result of the storm conditions in the northern North Sea. As a result, it is now safe to re-man the platform.

An initial crew of 19 arrived on Ninian Southern on Tuesday to carry out an initial inspection of the topside facilities. The crew will stay overnight on the neighboring Ninian Central platform, returning tomorrow to continue preparatory work for re-manning.

“Safety is paramount to CNR International and the company will continue to work with regulators, stakeholders and industry specialist consultants to ensure the correct procedures are followed before it fully re-mans the platform and restarts production,” the company concluded.