FSIVs are the future for offshore transport

SEACOR Marine has a sizeable fleet of these FSIVs, which travel at an average 15-20 knots, but can achieve a top speed of 40 knots. With this speed, flexibility, passenger and cargo capacities, demand for FSIVs is growing as energy companies increasingly recognise their benefits, particularly in the Middle East and West Africa.

SEACOR Marine vice president for international operations, Andrew McGregor, says energy companies should have FSIVs in their chartered fleet to move cargo and people rapidly to remote offshore facilities, replacing helicopter-related alternatives.

He was speaking during an interview at Riviera’s Offshore Support Journal Conference, Middle East, in Dubai in December 2024.

For these vessels, SEACOR Marine developed a walk-to-work system with SMST, enabling offshore engineers to move from these boats to an offshore installation. Other methods of transferring people are ’frogs’ that rely on crane operators and crewboat landings on the side of vessels.

Mr McGregor says demand for FSIVs will continue rising in West Africa and is emerging in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America to support deepwater drilling and production centres.