Despite a range of uncertainties including the shale oil and gas contribution to the global energy mix, continuing unrest in Iraq, and the affect of the oil price on world GDP growth, RRM is in no doubt that fossil fuels will dominate for decades. Much will be harnessed in an increasingly challenging offshore arena.
RRM vice president of offshore marketing Yrjar Garshol predicted that deepwater capital expenditure would climb to new highs, reaching an estimated $60bn in 2015. Development would focus on deep and ultra-deep sources, he said. Significant fleet replacement would be required. Of the 1,426-strong platform supply vessel (PSV) fleet, 316 were already more than 30 years old, and there were 272 vessels on order.
The trend would be towards larger vessels in future, capable of supporting offshore operations in deeper waters and further from land, he said.
Looking at the orderbook for anchor handlers - 136 vessels – represents only 7.5% of the 1,811-vessel fleet. Newbuilding demand for these vessels, he suggested, could pick up this year or next. Huge growth could be expected, he said, in the high-end inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) sector, and for sophisticated subsea construction vessels.
Meanwhile, RRM continues with the next phase of vessel automation technology. A range of its systems, including its first commercial “Unified Bridge”, are being installed on board a Simon Møkster PSV currently under construction at Astilleros Gondan in Spain. Due for delivery at the end of the year, the vessel is to be chartered to Statoil for deployment in the Norwegian North Sea and the Arctic.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.
