Hundreds of Gorgon Project construction workers will live on a luxury Norwegian cruise ship.

As reported this weekend on Perth Now website, up to 350 construction workers will be accommodated on the MS Finnmarken, a 7 year old cruise ship. Moorsure - Mooring Systems Solutions, has recently completed a concept evaluation study for Hurtigruten and Jeyco to support the utilisation of the MS Finnmarken Cruise Ship as an accommodation vessel for workers involved in Chevron's Gorgon development. The ship has lounges, bars and bistro, a, a hairdresser and a beauty treatment room, a swimming pool, fitness room, sauna, solarium and outside spas. An internet cafe is on deck four.

The concept sees the cruise ship being moored via a specially designed system that incorporates a staging barge to aid personnel and stores transfer activities. The vessel is expected to be on station in February 2010, with Moorsure to complete detailed design and analysis during November and December.

With the project having both onshore and offshore components, its not uncommon for the people undertaking offshore work, to be accommodated offshore and this will also reduce the impact of additional personnel on the island. The construction camp built on Barrow Island, will accommodate more than 3000 workers involved in the onshore construction of the Gorgon LNG and domestic gas processing plant.