Geotechnical/geophysical survey outfit appoints new CEO

UK-based marine survey company Gardline, which became part of Boskalis in 2017, has appointed a new chief executive.

The company has announced the appointment of Christiaan Vermeijden as chief executive officer, effective immediately. He will replace interim chief executive, Gerben Eggink.

Mr Vermeijden said, “I am honoured to become chief executive of Gardline, a company I have long admired for its strong reputation and rich heritage. I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues to make Gardline even more successful and realise its mission of empowering an energy industry in transition.

“We are seeing the green shoots of a recovery in offshore exploration and production, and consistent strong growth in offshore renewables,” Mr Vermeijden said.

He is joining Gardline after leaving his position as chief executive officer at Norway-based Electromagnetic Geoservices (EMGS). Prior to his role with EMGS, he was part of the executive management team and global offshore geotechnical director at Fugro. He holds a master of science degree in physical geography from the University of Amsterdam and MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management.

Gardline became part of Boskalis when Royal Boskalis Westminster acquired all of the shares in Gardline Group.

With the acquisition, Boskalis fulfilled an ambition to build a position in the offshore survey market and become a specialist provider of geotechnical surveys for the offshore oil and gas and renewables markets. Gardline operates survey vessels and smaller units, including crew transfer vessels and survey catamarans. Gardline was the main competitor of Fugro, a company that Boskalis was said to be interested in acquiring before the Gardline deal was completed.

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