Maersk Oil solves the gull problem with the laser bird repellent

Location:	Maersk House Offshore, North Sea
Application context:	Industry & Utility buildings > Floating Storage and Production
Problem definition:	Birds nesting on the vessel, including the helideck, resulting in safety hazards and structural damages to the platform
Pest bird species:	Gulls
Time of year bird presence:	August – September
Time of day bird presence:	All day long
Bird repellent tool:	1 x Aerolaser Handheld
Birds number before the Aerolaser Handheld has been used:	300
Birds number after the Aerolaser Handheld has been used:	80
Bird reduction:	73%
In use since:	June 2017
Bird behavior:	Nesting
Consequences of gull problem:	Safety hazards for helicopters, cleaning and maintenance costs of the helideck

One of the largest oil and gas companies, Maersk Oil relies on the laser bird repellent tool to successfully solve their gull problem

Maersk Oil is an international oil and gas company with a 2016 entitlement production of 313,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Turning complex fields into commercial successes has been the cornerstone of Maersk Oil’s business since 1962. The Floating Storage and Production (FSP) platform of Maersk is located close to the coast of Aberdeen, UK. The platform is located in the North Sea which is a core value driver for Maersk Oil but also a great place for seagulls to fish and nest. The gull problem causing critical risks to the operation during take off and landing of helicopters, as well as damaging the structure of the helideck. This couldn’t continue for any longer.

Grant Webb, Marine Superintendent and Operations of Maersk Oil refers to the times when there were hundreds of gulls nesting on the platform as a terrible period. Their bird damage resulted in extraordinary high annual cleaning and maintenance costs which were equal to 20,000 GBP (26,232 USD or 22,536 EUR).

Grant Webb tried different methods to repel the gulls including ultrasonic bird deterrents but nothing was effective enough. Trying to find a better and more effective bird repellent, Grant approached the Helideck Certification Agency (HCA) to get information on the newest bird repelling methods. He explained the problems

he and his team were facing as well as the annoyance, risks and damages the birds presence provoked. HCA recommended a laser bird repellent device from Bird Control Group as a proven effective solution to bird problem. Grant was very excited and contacted Bird control group to have further information on their devices.

A few weeks later, after following a theory and a practical training on how to use safely and efficiently the device, Grant and his team started using the Handheld laser and in a few months they saw the first results: from hundreds of birds to just eighty on the entire vessel and a reduction of structural damages.

“We are very happy with our bird repellent – Aerolaser Handheld! Our team received great training from Bird Control Group. It is very easy to use. Ideally we would like to install the automated laser bird repellent device on the platform in the future. We would definitely recommend these laser devices as the main solution to bird problems. It definitely works.”

Grant Webb, Marine Superintendent and Operations of Maersk Oil North Sea UK Limited