A new workshop for maintenance of subsea equipment and a new office block, which includes state-of-the-art support systems, has been set up on the existing base - adding 2400 square metres of buildings. In addition, a 600 square metre storage tent has been set up, and the staff canteen has been expanded.

In sum, NOK 50 million has been invested into the base through this latest expansion, which started at the end of 2007.

"Our customer base and installed base of subsea equipment has been steadily increasing since we set the base up in 1994. We know the North Sea subsea market will remain solid over the coming decade and this investment will enable us to offer even better support to our customers," says Dave Hutchinson, senior vice president for Subsea Lifecycle Services, Aker Solutions.

The Aagotnes base provides life-of-field support for subsea equipment, including offshore installation and intervention support; onshore maintenance, refurbishment and upgrades of subsea trees, control systems and intervention work-over systems; and maintenance, repairs and recertification of tools. It also provides storage facilities, engineering services and technical support.

Today, the Aagotnes base employs approximately 400 people. Manpower-wise it is Aker Solutions' biggest subsea service base worldwide. Although its main area of operations is the North Sea, the 110-strong offshore crew is providing installation and maintenance support for Aker Solutions' subsea projects worldwide.

"We have a highly experienced team at Aagotnes. They play an important role in enhancing the performance of our customers' installed subsea equipment and supporting emerging subsea regions such as Africa and Asia with onshore and offshore support. This latest investment is part of our long-term growth strategy for our presence on the Norwegian continental shelf - a part of the world which will see an increased focus on life-of-field service support in the years ahead," concludes Hutchinson.

For further information, please contact:

Endre Johansen, communications manager, Aker Solutions. Tel: +47 22 94 58 91, Mob: +47 416 10 605, e-mail: endre.johansen@akersolutions.com

Investor relations:
Lasse Torkildsen, SVP Investor Relations, Aker Solutions. Tel: +47 67 51 30 39, Mob: +47 911 37 194

Suppliers:
For further information about sourcing and potential subcontracts for this project, please contact BA Global Sourcing Champion, telephone number found here: http://www.akersolutions.com/Internet/SuppliersCentre/Contacts/SupplyManagementContacts.htm.

Career opportunities:
Visit http://www.akersolutions.com/careers

Aker Solutions ASA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Solutions"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. Aker Solutions' business serves several industries, including oil & gas, refining & chemicals, mining & metals and power generation. The Aker Solutions group is organised in a number of separate legal entities. Aker Solutions is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities. 

Aker Solutions' parent company is Aker Solutions ASA.  Aker Solutions has aggregated annual revenues of approximately NOK 58 billion and employs approximately 23 000 people in about 30 countries.

Aker Solutions is part of Aker (www.akerasa.com), a group of premier companies with a focus on energy, maritime and marine resource industries. The Aker companies share a common set of values and a long tradition of industrial innovation. As an industrial owner controlling 40.27 percent of the shares in Aker Solutions through Aker Holding AS, Aker ASA takes an active role in the development of Aker Solutions.  

This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see www.akersolutions.com.