Long-time SEACOR Marine vice president of engineering is feted by his OSV industry peers for his innovative spirit and pioneering efforts in hybrid-electric propulsion, and the UT 720 AHTS
For decades, Tim Clerc has been on the forefront of transformational technological advancements in the OSV sector, championing the hybridisation of platform supply vessels, and pushing the boundaries of ship design with the UT720 anchor-handling tug supply vessel. His influential technical leadership and strategic direction helped SEACOR Marine emerge as an industry leader, with one of the most modern and efficient OSV fleets.
And his influence on OSV design will be felt for decades to come. The long-time SEACOR Marine vice president of engineering was honoured for his accomplishments and innovation with the OSJ Lifetime Achievement Award at the gala awards dinner, during the Offshore Support Journal Conference, Awards & Exhibition in London in February.
In announcing the award, Riviera Maritime Media head of business relations and executive editor, Edwin Lambert, said: “[Mr Clerc] had the vision to embrace hybrid technology early on, recognising its immense potential for reducing emissions and fuel consumption long before this became an industry imperative.”
A true gentleman, Mr Clerc’s acceptance speech was humble, humorous, and reflective as he recounted his more than 50 years of experience in the maritime industry, dating back to his cadet training in the UK in 1969.
Recently retired from his position at SEACOR Marine but still active as a consulting engineer, Mr Clerc said: “I remember when for me ‘OTC’ meant ‘Offshore Technology Conference’. But nowadays, it’s more likely for me to be ‘over-the-counter’ medication,” he said to the amusement of the audience.
He recalled working with and admiring several of his fellow OSJ Lifetime Achievement Award winners, citing many of them as major influences in his career.
He said it was his privilege to work with “the legendary” Idar Ulstein, chairman of The Ulstein Group, and 2010 winner of the OSJ Lifetime Achievement Award, when he was supervising the construction of a series of six UT720s at the Ulstein Verft shipyard. While at Swire Pacific Offshore, Mr Clerc served as chief engineer on an UT704 anchor-handling tug supply vessel, designed by Ulstein Verft. “UT704 — to my mind one of the most transformational designs in the OSV world,” he stated, adding, “Building ships in his shipyard was truly a dream come true.”
“UT704 — to my mind one of the most transformational designs in the OSV world”
Mr Clerc reminisced about joint 2014 OSJ Lifetime Achievement Award winners, Sigmund Borgundvåg, chief naval architect, Rolls-Royce, and Terry Brown, technical manager, GulfMark, as other connections to the UT704.
“I can recall sitting in Pat O’Brien’s Bar in New Orleans with Sigmund doodling designs on the back of napkins. It’s probably good that those designs never came to fruition, as in my experience, anything fuelled with a few Hurricanes rarely ends well.”
But one of the biggest influences on Mr Clerc’s career was M3 Marine Group chief executive Mike Meade, 2022 OSJ Lifetime Achievement Award winner. “Mike convinced me that my future lay ashore, rather than seagoing, and gave me my first break and project management.”
Mr Clerc emphasised his achievements required the support and encouragement of others, and also encouraged his peers to look to the future by helping junior colleagues develop their skills. “You might even learn something from them along the way,” he added.
Mr Clerc thanked SEACOR Marine president and chief executive, John Gellert, for his inspired questions and prompts, pushing his engineering team to always do better. He also praised Hazel, his wife of more than 40 years, for patience and understanding, putting up with his “long absences, irregular hours and general distractions.”
In summing up his career goals, Mr Clerc said: “I just wanted the ships I was involved with to be better than those that had gone before. To be safe and efficient platforms; ships that crews wanted to sail, and importantly, our customers wanted to charter, and were profitable to operate.”
OFFSHORE SUPPORT JOURNAL’S HALL OF FAME
Lifetime Achievement Award winners
2010 – Idar Ulstein, chairman, The Ulstein Group
2011 – Per Saevik, founder, Havila Holding
2012 – Gary Chouest, president and chief executive, Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO)
2013 – Lee Kian Soo, founder, Ezra Holdings
2014 – Sigmund Borgundvåg, chief naval architect, Rolls-Royce and Terry Brown, technical manager, GulfMark
2015 – Kristian Siem, founder, Siem Industries
2016 – Larry Rigdon, chairman, Jackson Offshore Holdings
2017 – Johannes Østensjø, chairman, Østensjø Rederi (see his interview below)
2018 – Kjersti Kleven, co-owner, Kleven Maritime
2019 – Age Remoy, founder, Rem Offshore
2020 – Rene Berkvens, chief executive, Damen
2021- Morten Ulstein, chairman, Island Offshore and Island Drilling
2022 – Mike Meade, founder and chief executive, M3 Marine Group
2023 – Jan Fredrik Meling, president and chief executive, Eidesvik Offshore
2024 – Tim Clerc, SEACOR Marine, vice president, engineering, SEACOR Marine
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.