SeaBird Exploration has secured a West Africa OBN contract for its seismic source vessel Fulmar Explorer, with mobilisation expected to begin in December 2026.
According to a 12 November announcement by parent company SED Energy Holdings, the campaign will last approximately six months, including mobilisation and demobilisation, extending the vessel’s employment into 2027.
The client, contract value and specific offshore operating location were not disclosed.
Under the agreement, Fulmar Explorer will provide seismic source services for ocean bottom node (OBN) surveys. These operations use acoustic signals generated by a source vessel and recorded by receivers deployed on the seabed to obtain subsurface geological data.
The 2009-built vessel has been part of SeaBird Exploration‘s fleet since 2019 and has previously undertaken OBN source operations in the Western Hemisphere.
In February 2026, SeaBird Exploration secured a three-month extension for Fulmar Explorer‘s Western Hemisphere assignment, maintaining its firm employment through mid-June.
The company subsequently announced a separate West Africa OBN contract in June, covering approximately three months, including mobilisation and demobilisation. Mobilisation for that campaign was expected to follow the vessel’s scheduled five-year classification work in August.
The latest award represents another contract for Fulmar Explorer in West Africa. SeaBird Exploration has not disclosed whether the new campaign involves the same customer or operating location as the earlier assignment.
Finn Atle Hamre, CEO of SeaBird Exploration, said the new contract would extend the vessel’s activity well into 2027.
