Bristow Group is to provide offshore search and rescue services for international energy company Equinor at the Johan Sverdrup and Statfjord B oil platforms, located in the Norwegian North Sea off the west coast of Norway.

A critical part of the emergency preparedness on the southern Norwegian continental shelf, the contract has a duration of four years and includes three single year extension options. Three advanced search and rescue configured S-92 helicopters will provide the search and rescue service. Two helicopters will be based on Equinor's platforms with a backup S-92 based onshore.

“We are honoured that Equinor has placed its trust in Bristow. This award is a strong declaration of its confidence in our industry-leading experience in providing search and rescue services,” says managing director, Norway Heidi Wulff Heimark. “Search and rescue is a strategically important service for Bristow, and we are all extremely proud to be chosen as the preferred operator for SAR services to Equinor's emergency preparedness with SAR helicopters located offshore at Statfjord B and Johan Sverdrup offshore installations and backup SAR.”

Bristow has been an Equinor aviation partner for more than 25 years, supporting the Norwegian continental shelf both for crew change service and search and rescue services. In addition to Norwegian operations, Bristow also provides helicopter services to Equinor in Brazil and the US.