Perth-based Heliwest has moved into the offshore operations business, securing a contract with Roc Oil Company (ROC) to provide service and maintenance crew transfers for the Cliff Head oil rig off the coast of Dongara.
Heliwest is operating a BO105LS twin on the ROC contract, with a B212 for crew changes when required.
Heliwest CEO David Grimes hailed the contract as a major win for the local company. “The move into regular offshore operations is an exciting one for us and sits perfectly within our strategic aims,” Grimes said.
“ROC is a great client for us and we’re delighted to have been given the opportunity to provide their service and maintenance crew transfers between Dongara and the nearby Cliff Head facility.”
Heliwest takes over the ROC Cliff Head contract from Bristow Group.
In addition to gaining the ROC contract, Heliwest has also expanded its operations in Papua New Guinea, with the expected completion of a new contract to supply two Bell 212 helicopters to support offshore oil and gas operations for Saipem. The company operates six B212 helicopters in PNG in a joint venture with Port Moresby based Helifix.
Further, Heliwest has also expanding into Queensland, opening two new bases at Toowoomba and Mt Isa, with the Mt Isa base to support the operations of the North Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service.
Chief pilot Ash Williams said Heliwest was “confident of the longer-term opportunities in Toowoomba and the Mt Isa region, especially given the increasing demand for services by the resources and energy sectors”. “We have already responded to the dramatic events of the January floods by deploying extra machines and staff to Toowoomba to assist with search and rescue and recovery operations,” Williams said.
Finally, Heliwest co-founder and managing director Alan Bailey said the company was also on the verge of signing another long term agreement with the Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation relating to helicopter land management and tourism on their 50,000 sq km land.
