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Shelf Drilling

Supporting Shelf Drilling’s Expansion Across the UK, Dutch, Norwegian and Danish Continental Shelves

Since 2012, Atlas NextWave has played a central role in supporting Shelf Drilling (formerly Noble Drilling legacy assets) with the provision of experienced personnel, legislative insight, and strategic workforce continuity. From shipyard projects, ramp-ups, short term contracts, through to long-term crew mobilisations for longer term contracts, Atlas NextWave continues to be a preferred partner across Shelf Drilling’s UK, Dutch, Norwegian and Danish operations.

Samturner Jul2019 3 (1)

Client:

Shelf Drilling

Scope of Work:

Core Crew Supply, Project Ramp-Ups, Regulatory Support

Duration:

  • 2012 – Present

Location:

UK, Dutch, Norwegian and Danish Continental Shelf

We highly recommend Atlas NextWave to any organization seeking a dependable and professional partner for staffing solutions in the offshore industry. Their commitment to delivering high-quality personnel and their professionalism in managing complex requirements make them a trusted and valuable collaborator.

The Challenge: Crew Management, Strategic Crew Support

Atlas have supported Shelf Drilling (and legacy Noble) through the initial ramp-up of their rigs when they were first built, through multiple campaigns in the UK, Denmark and The Netherlands and have enjoyed a long-standing relationship that is built on expertise, compliance and mutual trust.

Atlas NextWave was, and continue to be, tasked with supporting rig ramp-ups, crew management for ongoing campaigns, ensuring legislative compliance and continuity of personnel.

Our Creative People Solution

Atlas NextWave has been a long-term partner to Shelf Drilling, offering:

  • Core and short-term crew provisioning for multiple jack-up rigs across UK, Dutch, Norwegian and Danish waters
  • Upman campaign support for rigs in shipyard preparing for upcoming contracts
  • Legislative support services, ensuing compliance in all locations, during all project phases

Key Milestones:

  • 2014 – Preferred supplier for the ramp-up of Noble Sam Turner (now Shelf Drilling Winner) during its transit from Singapore to Denmark. Also supported Noble Houston Colbert (now Shelf Drilling Odyssey) and Sam Hartley (now Shelf Drilling Fortress) during their first ramp-ups in the UK North Sea.
  • 2016 – Supported ramp-up of Noble Lloyd Noble (now Shelf Drilling Barsk), operating in the UK and later the Norwegian sector.
  • 2022 – Supporting Shelf Drilling’s HR team to maximise crew retention during the transition phase of Shelf acquiring Noble’s North Sea Drilling Assets.
  • 2025 – Ongoing support for Shelf Drilling Winner, Shelf Drilling Fortress and Shelf Drilling Barsk while also providing crewing assistance to Shelf Drilling’s international operations via the Middle East office.

The Outcome: Retention, Continuity, and Strategic Workforce Partnership

Atlas NextWave’s long-standing collaboration with Shelf Drilling has resulted in stable crew deployment across multiple assets and jurisdictions. Our ability to provide workforce continuity across multiple regions has further supported Shelf Drilling’s already strong retention strategy.

Why Atlas NextWave?

Atlas NextWave delivers more than staffing – we offer deep market insight, legal understanding, and cross-border support that empowers clients to manage transitions, scale operations, and maintain workforce integrity. Our work with Shelf Drilling exemplifies our ability to adapt to client evolution and deliver talent with precision, care, and long-term value.

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