Member Article

Bibby Offshore boosts North Sea fleet

Bibby Offshore, part of the Liverpool-based Bibby Line Group, is expanding its fleet of North Sea class diving support vessels.

It has signed a contract to charter the DP2 Dive Support Vessel ‘Mermaid Endurer’ from SubtechLtd, on behalf of Mermaid Offshore Services.

Built in 2010 by the Bergen Group, the ‘Mermaid Endurer’ is a highly manoeuvrable deep sea / offshore construction vessel, designed for operation under severe weather conditions.

The contract will run from next April to the end of the fourth quarter of 2014, with options for a further extension subject to mutual agreement.

The vessel will join the rest of Bibby Offshore’s fleet, which includes the Bibby Saphire, Bibby Polaris and Bibby Topaz.

Bibby Offshore business and commercial director, Andrew Duncan said: “The charter of the Mermaid Endurer will expand our capacity for our oil and gas clients in the North Sea, for the next two years and allow us to continue to deliver comprehensive DSV support in this region.

“Subtech will also be providing additional assistance by providing personnel and we will work in close collaboration with our Diving Operations Department to supply diving staff.”

BOL and BRIL, part of Bibby Offshore has grown from 10 employees in 2003 to now employing more than 1,300 people onshore and offshore worldwide, with offices in Aberdeen, Liverpool, Singapore and Trinidad.

Paul Whiley, executive director of Mermaid’s subsea division, said: “This contract marks Mermaid’s successful re-entry into the North Sea market at a particularly exciting time over there. The contract covers all facets of the Mermaid group namely, Mermaid Offshore’s marine division, Subtech’s diving, inspection and IRM division, Subtech’s ROV department and Seascape’s survey division.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .