Page 28: of Marine News Magazine (August 2011)

BP's gushing well was capped more than a year ago but life is hardly back to normal in the U.S. Gulf--where rigs and vessels remain underutilized. At least ten rigs have moved overseas since last summer. Gulf oil production is below pre-spill levels and won't recover anytime soon, analysts say. Issuance of drilling permits picked up this spring as operators agreed to use oil-containment systems but permitting lags earlier rates.Paul Candies, president and CEO of Otto Candies, LLC, in Des Allemands, La., said offshore activity has increased recently, and we expect to see a slow trend toward more drilling  But the marine industry shouldn't get lulled into a false sense of security. We need to con- tinue to push for more permitting of rigs and simplifica- tion of that process,? he said. Candies gave a positive report about his company, saying all of our platform sup- ply vessels are committed at present for extended periods. We have three inspection, maintenance and repair vessels on long-term commitments, and should have a fourth IMR vessel committed by year end.? Otto Candies is a marine transportation and offshore services company. At Laborde Marine Management, LLC, in New Orleans, managing member Cliffe Laborde said I think the worst is over, but we're a long way from getting back to where we were shortly before the Macondo spill.? Laborde Marine, with operations in Morgan City, La., services the deep and shallow water drilling industry. GULFASSETS MOVE OVERSEASLaborde provided some recent history, and explained how promising times in the Gulf had turned sour. In early 2010, as the economy emerged from a two-year recession, the Gulf energy industry was beginning to bloom,? he said. Utilization rates for deepwater support vessels were high, and charter rates were rising again. The outlook was very good, but then came the spill and the market has languished since.? Laborde continued, saying many deepwater vessels and rigs have moved out of the GOM to foreign areas, and 28MNAugust 2011Offshore Vessel Operators Suffer with GOM Output Sag By Susan Buchanan I think the worst is over, but we're a long way fromgetting back to where we were shortly before theMacondo spill.?Marine Management, LLC managing member Cliffe Laborde (left), with Peter Laborde