Pioneering Spirit prepares for 60,000-mt Statfjord A topsides removal

Allseas has tapped ABL for the Statfjord A single-lift decommissioning campaign.
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Sept. 24, 2026
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Why this news matters:

  • Pioneering Spirit's upgraded lift system will be tested on one of the largest North Sea decommissioning projects.

  • The campaign highlights growing demand for large-scale offshore removal and recycling capabilities.

 

Photo by Ole Jørgen Bratland; Courtesy Equinor
Statfjord A offshore platform in the North Sea

Statfjord A, one of the oldest and largest platforms in the North Sea, is slated for topsides removal as part of the field's ongoing decommissioning program. The operation is expected to be carried out by Allseas' Pioneering Spirit using its upgraded heavy-lift system.

Allseas has appointed ABL as marine warranty surveyor for the single-lift removal of the Statfjord A topside in the Norwegian North Sea.

Equinor operates the concrete gravity-base production platform at the Statfjord field.

Courtesy ABL
Drone photo of Pioneering Spirit during Turkstream project

Pioneering Spirit, the world's largest construction vessel, is shown during work on the TurkStream pipeline project. ABL has been selected to provide marine warranty surveyor services for the planned removal of the Statfjord A platform topsides in the North Sea.

Statfjord A is one of the largest and oldest platforms in the North Sea. The planned removal will be among the heaviest offshore single-lift decommissioning operations undertaken, using Pioneering Spirit's upgraded lifting system with a capacity increased to 60,000 metric tons.

Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit will remove the giant topside in a single lift and deliver it to a decommissioning yard for disposal and recycling.

The vessel’s motion-compensated topsides lifting system capacity has been upgraded from 48,000 to 60,000 metric tons for this operation.

ABL's team in Norway will work to reduce risks throughout the campaign and ensure it is delivered in compliance with agreed procedures and local regulations.

The consultant’s scope of work, awarded under its existing framework agreement with Allseas in Norway, includes an independent third-party technical review of the procedural documentation; marine assurance services to verify the operational suitability of the proposed vessel fleet; and offshore attendance to witness and approve operational delivery.

About the Author

Jeremy Beckman
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Jeremy Beckman

Staff Writer / Editor, Europe

Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.

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