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Seafarer shortages, safety challenges top list of OSV owner worries
Owners worry a lack of trained crew could become a safety risk on offshore support vessels (OSVs) as the sector undergoes an upturn in a cyclical industry
Chief executives voiced their concerns during a panel debate at Riviera Maritime Media’s Annual Offshore Support Journal Conference, in London, UK, 8 February 2024.
The owners were asked for their views on series of issues and industry trends by delegates at the packed conference.
When asked what keeps them up at night, they all agreed seafarer shortages and safety were key issues for the industry to act upon.
Tidewater International president and chief executive Quintin V Kneen said “safety is critical” and should not be compromised, even when operational fleets are increased by reactivating laid up vessels.
“We do not have enough people and they are not trained enough, and what we are doing is more complex and advanced,” he said. “People need more experience and training as our activity is surging.”
Mr Kneen is also worried about the industry being coerced into ordering new fleets of OSVs for energy companies facing a shortage of vessels. Demand for OSVs has risen in the past 18 months without additions to the global fleet, raising utilisation and rates for owners, but increasing operational costs and reducing availability in world markets.
“It is an exciting time in the industry and we are in a long profitable period for vessel owners,” said Mr Kneen. “Demand will grow over the next few years and there are not enough vessels.”
This market outlook puts energy companies at a disadvantage and is forcing them to work closer with owners to ensure OSV availability. But in the past, this has led owners to build too many vessels and market rates to plummet. Owners that over leveraged and built debt were left to find ways to repay debt or go under.
“The industry needs to be disciplined,” said Mr Kneen. “Clients will offer partnerships and entice newbuildings, but they will push owners into bankruptcy and say it is the market,” he warned.
“Owners are in the strongest position in 20 years and only we can give up this advantage. We must demand fair compensation for the risks we take on through the prices we charge for vessels. Owners need to resist the temptation to build, must remember the past decade and not be fooled again.”
Qatar-headquartered Sea Horizon Offshore Marine Services chief executive Danial Kaabi also highlighted crew shortages as a key challenge for the sector. “It is very difficult to get the right crew,” he said, adding owners need specialised crewing strategies.
He also expects long-term demand for OSVs in the Middle East due to the growing list of offshore field developments and rejuvenation projects in the region.
Mr Kaabi cautioned owners to not rush out to order new OSV fleets to prevent another downturn occurring later in the decade. “The market has picked up, projects are coming in and we need a sense of caution to make this upturn longer lasting.”
SEACOR Marine president and chief executive John Gellert said there should be “routes to greater safety” such as reducing the number of dynamic positioning operators (DPOs) required by energy companies on vessels.
“We need fewer people on the bridge,” he said. “Do we need four or five DPOs on one vessel? These people are tripping over themselves, but clients require this.”
He reminded delegates the specialism of OSVs means seafarers coming from merchant shipping need additional training and vessel familiarisation.
North Star Group commercial director Michael Gordon also agreed safety was a key priority and seafarer shortages are challenging, as owners expand fleets of service operations vessels to maintain offshore windfarms.
“Safety is important - because we have never had more people working at sea than now. There are offshore technicians, crews and subcontractors on board, and we are custodians of these people on vessels.”
ADNOC Logistics & Services vice president for offshore mobile solutions, projects and subsea Markus de Jonge agreed OSV owners need to ensure the safety of people working on vessels.
“People on board vessels, involved in projects and daily operations, are our biggest assets and we need to take care of them,” he said.
Mr de Jonge said vessel owners need to become more involved in the whole supply chain to deliver cargo and products to offshore installations before logistics providers become more involved offshore.
Riviera Maritime Media’s OSJ Conference, Americas, part of the annual global OSJ Conference series, returns to Houston in June 2024. This two-day event will bring together the OSV community to explore the emerging opportunities in the resurgent regional offshore energy sector, including traditional oil and gas and wind. Use this link for more information and to register for the conference.
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