Bibby Offshore Expands Fleet with Nearly ?30million Investment

Aberdeen-based subsea installation contractor Bibby Offshore has invested close to £30million in the past six months increasing its international fleet of subsea support vessels by 40%.

Most recently, the company signed a contract to charter “EDT Jane”, a new build remotely operated vehicle support vessel (ROVSV). The company now boasts a fleet of eight vessels and 15 Remote Operating Vehicles (ROV).

This dedicated ROVSV with full survey and inspection spread will be mobilized from April 2014 as part of a 180 day charter,  with options to extend for an additional three years. 

With the continued growth of Bibby Offshore’s sister company, Bibby Remote Intervention Limited (BRIL), a state of the art ROVSV was required to deliver contracted subsea commitments, as well as the increasing demand for the full suite of survey and inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) that this class leading vessel can provide.

Mike Arnold, Bibby Offshore’s chief operating officer for the western hemisphere, said: “The charter of the EDT Jane continues to expand our service offering to our oil and gas clients, and will continue North Sea IRM scopes previously carried out by the Toisa Warrior, a charter that ended earlier this month, as part of our ongoing Centrica project.”

“This brand new vessel is a valuable addition to the fleet. The contract will involve our skilled and dedicated team providing full IRM activities, pipeline and structural inspection and light construction support, which will also be supported by the experienced onshore team.”

In line with its existing work scope, BRIL will install a mixed fleet of work-class and observation class ROVs onboard the vessel, including an SMD 150hp Quasar work class ROV, SeaEye Cougar Inspection class ROV and a SeaEye Lynx Observation Inspection class ROV.

Bibby has grown from 10 employees in 2003 to now employing more than 1,300 people onshore and offshore globally, with offices in Aberdeen, Liverpool, Newcastle, Singapore, Houston and Trinidad. The company now has an international fleet of eight subsea support vessels and 15 ROVs and will continue to add to its fleet to meet market demand.

Bibby Offshore is exhibiting at Subsea Expo on stand 139, at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Center (AECC) from the 5th - 7th February.