On December 22, 2025, DOF Group ASA shared a compact but meaningful update: several new project awards in the Atlantic region, plus a separate multi-year contract award in North America. Together, they add up to more than USD 60 million in combined contract value (excluding options) and more than 250 firm vessel days, with most of the Atlantic work scheduled for execution across Q4 2025 and Q1 2026.
If you follow offshore subsea activity, this matters for a simple reason: winter work in the North Sea and complex subsea operations off West Africa demand real capability, reliable crews, and tight logistics. DOF is clearly leaning into that demand with named vessels, defined scopes, and a timeline that starts right away.
DOF in the Atlantic: what the awards actually include
They will execute the Atlantic-region awards primarily with its regional fleet during the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. In other words, the company plans to do this work with assets already positioned for the area, which usually helps on mobilisation time, cost control, and schedule confidence.
Just as important, DOF puts a number on the workload: more than 250 firm vessel days in total, excluding options. That detail may sound technical, yet it tells you something practical. These are not “maybe” projects; they come with committed time at sea, and options sit on top.
Now, let’s break down the vessel-by-vessel picture, because DOF does not keep it vague.
First, Skandi Hera and Skandi Master will work in subsea mode in West Africa under direct contracts with an operator. Skandi Hera will deliver trenching and burial services, while Skandi Master will support commissioning and start-up activities on a tie-back project. Both engagements have an expected duration of up to two months.
That pairing makes sense: trenching and burial often protect subsea infrastructure, while commissioning and start-up work tends to arrive later, when the project needs careful execution and dependable tooling. So, DOF’s plan reads like a complete package across different phases of offshore development.
Next, Skandi Installer will handle several subsea projects in the North Sea, covering both the Norwegian Continental Shelf and the UK Continental Shelf. DOF states that Skandi Installer will first execute a decommissioning project for a UK operator. After that, it will mobilise to a Norwegian operator to install subsea production equipment and carry out various well-related activities.
This sequence matters because it shows continuity of utilisation
Instead of a single job with downtime after completion, DOF describes a run of work that shifts across clients and jurisdictions. As a result, the vessel stays active through the toughest season of the year, which is exactly where capable subsea tonnage earns its keep.
Alongside that schedule, Havila Phoenix will support an IMR project on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and also provide support on one of Skandi Installer’s projects. DOF quantifies the commitment: Skandi Installer totals more than 130 firm vessel days, while Havila Phoenix accounts for more than 45 firm vessel days.
If you add those numbers to the West Africa scopes, you can see why the total exceeds 250 days. More to the point, the work spans trenching/burial, commissioning support, decommissioning, installation, and IMR. That range is not accidental; it reflects the way subsea demand shows up in real life, where operators mix maintenance needs with new developments and end-of-life activity.
DOF’s CEO, Mons S. Aase, ties the announcement to winter capability in the North Sea and to DOF’s project execution track record in harsh weather. He also points to trust from repeat and new customers.
Finally, DOF adds a detail that often gets overlooked but affects delivery every single day offshore: the projects include project management, logistics, engineering, and offshore execution scopes, delivered by DOF’s teams across Norway and Scotland. In plain terms, DOF does not just send vessels; it sends the full operational backbone that makes offshore work run smoothly.
DOF in North America: the Shell Trinidad and Tobago IMR contract
In the same December 22 update, DOF also announces a multi-year contract award in the North America region for Shell. DOF defines this contract category as “Significant,” which the company states means a value between USD 15 million and USD 25 million (excluding variation works).
Here is what DOF says it will deliver: an integrated solution for Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) services, including vessel and ROVs, for Shell Trinidad and Tobago Limited.
The timing and structure also come through clearly. The contract covers work in 2025, 2026, and 2027, for a total of 190 days across the three years. That kind of spread often suggests planned campaigns rather than a single concentrated offshore push, which can help with predictable scheduling and resource planning.
When you place this North America award next to the Atlantic projects, a simple pattern appears. On one hand, DOF loads the fleet for near-term execution (Q4 2025–Q1 2026) with more than 250 firm days and a combined contract value that exceeds USD 60 million, excluding options. On the other hand, DOF adds a multi-year IMR commitment that stretches across three calendar years with 190 days in total. So, DOF balances short-cycle project work with longer-cycle service work, and that mix can stabilise both people planning and asset utilisation.
What to take away from DOF’s December 22 update
If you only remember three things, make them these.
First, DOF names the assets and the work scopes. That transparency helps you understand what the awards mean beyond the headline value.
Second, DOF anchors the Atlantic execution in Q4 2025 and Q1 2026 and ties it to a firm utilisation figure of more than 250 vessel days (excluding options). That is real, scheduled offshore time, not just a pipeline.
Third, DOF adds a North America region award for Shell Trinidad and Tobago Limited that runs across 2025–2027 with 190 days total, defined by DOF as a “Significant” contract (USD 15–25 million). So, while the Atlantic work drives near-term activity, the Shell award supports continuity beyond the winter season.
