Leisure is not a problem
Working offshore means twelve-hour shifts, fourteen days in a row – that’s the standard on platforms and rigs. Even though the workdays are long, there’s still a bit of time left – time that, thanks to catering services, doesn’t have to be spent cooking, cleaning, or doing the dishes.
Leisure time must in many ways be shaped by those who are on board at any given time, but the platform is also built with free time in mind. There are lounges, break rooms, a library, and even a cinema. On top of that, fitness has been prioritized.
Cardio and Strength
If you search for “training” in old internal Statoil/Equinor newsletters like Status, you’ll find plenty of hits about safety drills, equipment training, and evacuation exercises. But many of the articles also focus on physical fitness and health-promoting measures.
Exercise, health, and the work environment are also covered in the introductory brochures given to newcomers at Equinor installations.
Much of the reading material is aimed at offshore employees and how they can stay fit. Not surprisingly, Gullfaks A, B, and C are all equipped with gyms that support both cardio and strength training.
In the gyms, people can train solo, in small groups, or join group workouts led by fellow crew members.
Workout equipment is also placed strategically in spots where people tend to sit still for long periods, like the control room or laundry facility. The goal is to counteract skeletal and muscular issues—a problem not only in Norwegian society at large, but on the platforms too, explains Anne Marthe Våge Djønne, a nurse on Gullfaks A.[REMOVE]Fotnote: Nurse, Anne Marthe Våge Djønne, in conversation with Shadé B. Martins, Ole Kvadsheim and Julia Stangeland (all Norwegian Petroleum Museum) onboard at Gullfaks A, 26 June 2024.
The platform itself can be used as a training space. Walking around it, or from the lower deck up to the top of the helideck, is a workout in itself. Not only does it get your body moving, but it also gives you a bit of fresh air.
On windy days with bad weather, that air might be a little too fresh. Then it’s nice to head indoors to the golf simulator in the cinema or settle into a hobby that involves a slower pace.
Bull’s-eye and tight lines
It’s not just golf skills that can be kept sharp on this “island” far out at sea with no grass in sight. On Gullfaks C, it’s been possible to practice shooting before hunting season—and if you’re not a hunter, you can always go fishing. Whether you’re prepping for a competition or just enjoy it, you can compete in both billiards and darts.
You can also just kick back with some knitting (there’s no shortage of yarn) or join group movie nights. There’s TV, books, and the option to retreat to your cabin to chat with family back home or call it an early night.
A platform isn’t just a workplace—it’s also where you spend part of your free time. It’s a miniature society, and just like in any community, there are a variety of personalities: some need more solitude, others thrive on social interaction, and many land somewhere in between.
Leisure by collective effort
Within the tight-knit platform community, there are always those who go the extra mile for everyone’s well-being. They organize movie nights, volunteer as spin instructors, or lead the knife-making club (yes, they make knives, not throw them).
Some take spontaneous initiative; others join the “welfare group,” which helps create a festive vibe for holidays like Christmas, May 17th, or the June barbecue.
Whether it’s a role you’ve chosen or a position you’ve been elected to, it’s all volunteer work—done during your time off, for your time off.