Text and photo: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Communication

The special thing about the tank is that it's square. We've made tanks like this before, but never with these dimensions, says project manager Stanley Rafoss.

The tank is 120 cubic metres and measures 3.5 by 10.4 metres, and will have three internal chambers. This presents additional challenges.

– A ROUND TANK strength in itself. With a square tank, it's different. It needs to be stiffened and is much more challenging to make. And the more chambers, the more work there is. In return, a square tank will utilise space better on board than a round one, says Rafoss.

Inside the workshop, welders, fitters and sheet metal workers are in full swing.

Three welders are working on the two long sides. The entire tank is made of Duplex, which is a stainless steel with good corrosion resistance and high mechanical durability.

– THEN IT WILL HOLD with over 600 parts, which are finished here in the workshop before they are welded and assembled together, says production coordinator at the workshop, Chris Bjørklund.

Hugin A platform's construction is being assembled in Stord. In addition to the atmospheric freshwater tank that is now in production, Halvorsen will deliver five pressure tanks for the project.

The freshwater tank, which is called a «Potable Water Storage Tank,» must be finished by Christmas. Everyone in the workshop is currently involved in the work. The planned delivery date for the other five is before next summer, says Rafoss.

Daily Leader Frode Olsen does not hide the fact that the Yggdrasil project is a large and very important undertaking.

– Halvorsen has secured a contract which has contributed to our investment in future-proof robotic welding machines. This makes us competitive in the international market, says Olsen.

HALVORSEN is one of several hundred Norwegian supplier companies contributing to Yggdrasil.

The developer is the «Fixed Facilities Alliance,» which is an alliance between Aker BP, Aker Solutions, and Siemens Energy. Halvorsen's client is Aker Solutions.

Aker BP and its licence partners are investing 115 billion Norwegian kroner in Yggdrasil. The development is expected to create 65,000 man-years in Norway, with half of these during the development phase.