Maersk Backs City as 200 Oil Jobs Created

Aberdeen's oil sector has been handed a major jobs boost with the announcement Thursday of 200 new posts.

The oil arm of shipping giant Maersk delivered a huge vote of confidence in the Granite City with word that it aims to double its production from the North Sea in the next five to six years.

The boost brings the number of jobs created by the firm recently to nearly 450 as it has taken on 240 people since the start of 2011.

The announcement came on the day David Cameron revealed his vision of using the North Sea to drive a "second energy revolution". The prime minister said 20 leading energy firms had signed up to work with the UK Government to co-ordinate investment in North Sea-based renewables schemes.

As well as the new jobs at Maersk, posts were also announced Thursday at north-east firm Survival Craft Inspectorate, which provides emergency marine evacuation systems.

It is creating 22 jobs, 10 to be based at its Findon site, which employs 90 of its 140 total staff. The rest will be based overseas. The positions were created on the back of increased demand for lifeboat release and retrieval systems - due to new safety regulations - and this is set to help the firm boost turnover from $24.36 million (GBP 15 million) to $40.59 million (GBP 25 million) in the next financial year. Maersk Oil's UK managing director, Martin Rune Pedersen, said the Granite City was a core area for the oil firm.

"Aberdeen, in its role as gatekeeper to the UK North Sea, attracts and produces some of the world's most proficient operatives in the oil and gas sector," he said. "Oil and gas activity will continue to be a driving factor for Aberdeen's economy for several decades and, with long-term confidence in the future of offshore operations, the city continues to be acknowledged as the energy capital of Europe.

"Having a business hub at the heart of one of the most important oil and gas-producing regions in the world is core to Maersk Oil and the company is extremely committed to growing and developing this important arm of the business."

Mr Pedersen said Maersk Oil UK planned to spend $1.64 billion (GBP 1 billion) a year in the North Sea and increase its onshore and offshore staff of 1,000 by 200 in the next two years.

It also aimed to double its daily production of 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent.

This will be achieved through maximising recovery of oil and extending field lives, progressing fields to development and taking part in the 27th licensing round.

The firm, a subsidiary of Danish shipping firm AP Moller - Maersk Group, will also be looking at acquisition opportunities, Mr Pedersen said.

Maersk Oil entered the North Sea in 2005 when it bought the North Sea assets of Kerr McGee, taking over about 500 staff.

It has three main hubs - Gryphon, GPIII/Dunbarton and Janice - with ownership in 14 oil and gas fields, including Nexen's ?2billion Golden Eagle development.

The Gryphon floating production vessel, which was damaged in a storm in February last year, is due back on station and producing at the end of summer, Mr Pedersen said.

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