Norwegian yard Aker Verdal has announced that 155 jobs will be cut, due to major losses and a lack of new contracts. The announcement was made following a board meeting Monday evening.

The number of jobs will be reduced from 610 to 445. How many workers will actually be laid off will not be determined until the end of September, according to Shop Steward Stein Aamdal.

Union representatives say they now fear that th layoffs will be the beginning of the end for the company.

Aker Verdal was established in 1970 and has developed a special competence in engineering and building large steel constructions and steel substructures (jackets) for the offshore oil industry. With 33 jacket deliveries since 1975, Aker Verdal has established a leading position in this area.

The yard has also delivered a wide range of floating and fixed installations to the oil industry in the North Sea. A total of 10 semi-submersible platforms of Aker H3 and H3.2 design was built in the period 1973 to 1982.  Furthermore, a wide range of modules and decks, sub-sea templates, bridges, flare towers and a loading buoy have been delivered.

(NRK/Press release)

Rolleiv Solholm 

Written by Rolleiv Solholm