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Spring has greeted us with snow and blizzards. The atmosphere offshore – 80 km distant from the mainland – makes both working and rest conditions far more difficult than usual for this time of year. The weather now is not very different from the wintery conditions here, a fact documented in photos just a few days ago.

Upstream activity

Spring has greeted us with snow and blizzards.  The atmosphere offshore – 80 km distant from the mainland – makes both working and rest conditions far more difficult than usual for this time of year.  The weather now is not  very different from the wintery conditions here, a fact documented in photos just a few days ago.

So if it’s difficult now, what was it like working in the depths of winter?

The crew of the platform ‘Baltic Beta’ face the difficult weather conditions bravely. “The snow and rain, combined with the freezing winds, mean you’re chiselling ice off the walkways and handrails,” says Mariusz Narog, Head of Operations on the ‘Baltic Beta’.

“There are explosive zones on the platform, so we clear the ice using steam,” adds Slawomir Jacak of the ‘Petrobaltic’ platform. “Additionally, equipment for winter use is protected with appropriate chemical solutions.”
The Electrics and Machinery Department must also ensure the smooth running of the various components of a platform. Machinery and equipment is put to severe test, and the Operational Service must ensure the maintenance of systems that are working 24 hours a day.

“Although we always take appropriate measures, it sometimes happens that something just refuses to cooperate, something freezes up,” says Mariusz Narog. “In these cases, it is the irreplaceable knowledge and experience of the crew that saves the day, as they know exactly what to do from having been in similar situations.”

In the winter, you cannot even stick your nose out of a platform’s superstructure without proper clothing, and it is always difficult to protect against icy winds.  At these times, the hospitality team plays a major role in keeping the crew’s strength up, with their chefs at the helm, preparing delicious hot meals and refreshment.