Single cabins on Gullfaks A

Offshore accommodation has always varied in both size and comfort. On Ekofisk, there were initially eight-man cabins, but standards quickly improved. Before Gullfaks A, four- and two-man cabins were common on production platforms. When planning for Gullfaks A began, both the operations organization – led by Jacob Bleie – and the project management believed that single cabins were essential for well-being and a good work environment, especially since many had permanent offshore positions.

The design of the living quarters thus became a key topic of discussion. Onshore, requirements for single rooms in construction camps had recently been introduced, and the labor unions fully supported that this should also apply offshore. However, Statoil faced opposition from foreign operators, who were concerned about costs, space, and weight limitations.

Statoil understood that if Gullfaks A was built with single cabins, it would set a new standard for the entire shelf. To convince decision-makers, a full-scale model of the cabin was built in the basement of the project office in Asker. The model, reminiscent of cruise ship cabins, impressed. Statoil director Arve Johnsen was invited for an inspection – and approval came quickly.

With Gullfaks A, single cabins were established as the new standard in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Of the 330 berths on board, 220 were single cabins. To handle periods of high staffing, such as during hookup and major maintenance, the cabins were equipped with flexible solutions: the beds could be folded up and function as bunk beds, allowing two people to temporarily share the room.

The article is based on Helge Hatlestad (2021). Femti år med oljeproduksjon. Min historie. [Helge Hatlestad].